used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
accidentsnounUS /ˈæksədənts/
plural of “accident” — an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
alongshore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
in addition
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
for the reason that
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
cachenounUS /kæʃ/
a hidden storage space (for money or provisions or weapons)
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/
past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
having the place or position changed
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
fellingverbUS /ˈfelɪŋ/
-ing form of “fell” — cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
set up or found
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
and nothing more
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
liquornounUS /ˈlɪkər/
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
lumbermen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
the force of workers available
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
of an obscure nature
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
go across or through
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
RangernounUS /ˈreɪndʒər/
a member of the Texas state highway patrol; formerly a mounted lawman who maintained order on the frontier
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
rumnounUS /rʌm/
liquor distilled from fermented molasses
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
SMUGGLERnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlər/
someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
believed likely
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SMUGGLER The Ranger had been puzzled by strange footprints he had found on the river bank.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading There had been several serious accidents in felling the great trees because the men had been drinking.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The lumber boss complained that in some mysterious way they were getting the forbidden stuff.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had also been disturbed to learn that the lumbermen just over the pass were getting liquor.
which person or people
From this reading The Ranger suspected that there might be a smuggler about who was bringing rum from some point alongshore up the river, but he could find neither the man nor his cache.
