used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
BARNEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHERE BARNEY SHEA WAS.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
Dwight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
examinationnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
a boy or man
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
IrishmannounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
jollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
not able to be found
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
not any; not one
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
Reade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
rollickingadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːlɪkɪŋ/
given to merry frolicking
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
SHEA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHERE BARNEY SHEA WAS.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
propel through the air
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
communicated in words
From this reading As Frank made his hasty examination, he uttered a cry of surprise.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading Frank searched through his wagon, in the vain hope that Barney might be playing a trick upon them, but the jolly fellow was not hiding.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHERE BARNEY SHEA WAS.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
in or at the place that
From this reading WHERE BARNEY SHEA WAS.
whereaboutsnounUS /ˈwerəbaʊts/
the general location where something is
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
showing curiosity
From this reading Dwight and Frank Reade were much surprised; but their wondering did not throw any light upon the whereabouts of the rollicking Irishman.
an affirmative
From this reading Yes, there was no mistake about the little affair; Barney Shea was missing.
