used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
AmericansnounUS /əˈmerəkənz/
plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Texan arranged the matter and got Ken a freight bill.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading The Texan arranged the matter and got Ken a freight bill.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading The Texan arranged the matter and got Ken a freight bill.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
comparedverbUS /kəmˈperd/
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
convinceverbUS /kənˈvɪns/
make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
drawling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
employeenounUS /emˈplɔɪi/
a worker who is hired to perform a job
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading The Texan arranged the matter and got Ken a freight bill.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The Texan arranged the matter and got Ken a freight bill.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
KennounUS /ken/
range of what one can know or understand
From this reading The Texan arranged the matter and got Ken a freight bill.
Ken'snounUS /kenz/
possessive form of “ken” — range of what one can know or understand
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “Shore you-all will have the time of your lives.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The Texan arranged the matter and got Ken a freight bill.
merchandisenounUS /ˈmɜːrtʃəndaɪz/
commodities offered for sale
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
obstaclesnounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəlz/
plural of “obstacle” — something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/
plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
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 But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
shippedverbUS /ʃɪpt/
inflected form of “ship” — transport commercially
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
shippingnounUS /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading “Shore you-all will have the time of your lives.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
TexannounUS /ˈteksən/
a native or resident of Texas
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Shore you-all will have the time of your lives.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
at the time that
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Shore you-all will have the time of your lives.
WilliamsnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading He took an entirely different view of Ken’s enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, he said:
in the company of; together with
From this reading When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with more obstacles.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of the railroad, they would never have been able to convince the native shipping agent that a boat was merchandise.
you-all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Shore you-all will have the time of your lives.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Shore you-all will have the time of your lives.
