used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
consider or hold as true
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
any thing at all
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
boardingnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “I’m here with a friend of mine,” he muttered.
FULFILLEDadjectiveUS /fʊlˈfɪld/
completed to perfection
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
grinnedverbUS /ɡrɪnd/
inflected form of “grin” — to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “I’m here with a friend of mine,” he muttered.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m here with a friend of mine,” he muttered.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
loiteringverbUS /ˈlɔɪtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “loiter” — be about
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I’m here with a friend of mine,” he muttered.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “I’m here with a friend of mine,” he muttered.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
not any; not one
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
nuisancenounUS /ˈnuːsəns/
(law) a broad legal concept including anything that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers life and health or is offensive
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I’m here with a friend of mine,” he muttered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
in other respects or ways
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
PatverbUS /pæt/
pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
an educational institution
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
sheepishlyadverbUS /ˈʃiːpɪʃli/
in a sheepish manner
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
term of address for a man
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “These birds haven’t got anything on me—no sir!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading He had heard at school that a group of boys had been loitering near the railroad tracks, boarding freight trains, and otherwise making a nuisance of themselves.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Dan had his own idea of why Pat might be in court, but he pretended to accept the explanation.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading A WISH FULFILLED Knowing that he had been recognized, Pat grinned sheepishly at Dan.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I’m here with a friend of mine,” he muttered.
