used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
astoundedadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
for the reason that
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
BunyannounUS /ˈbʌnjən/
English preacher and author of an allegorical novel, Pilgrim's Progress (1628-1688)
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
move gently or carefully
From this reading And they would have been perplexed by any other scheme to ease their lot.
exertionsnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃənz/
plural of “exertion” — use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
framesnounUS /freɪmz/
plural of “frame” — the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
loggersnounUS /ˈlɑːɡərz/
plural of “logger” — a person who fells trees
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading And they would have been perplexed by any other scheme to ease their lot.
the force of workers available
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
muscularadjectiveUS /ˈmʌskjələr/
of or relating to or consisting of muscle
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading And they would have been perplexed by any other scheme to ease their lot.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading And they would have been perplexed by any other scheme to ease their lot.
praisesnounUS /ˈpreɪzəz/
plural of “praise” — an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading And they would have been perplexed by any other scheme to ease their lot.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
sturdyadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading Nor did Paul Bunyan expect shouted praises and thanks from his loggers.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And they would have been perplexed by any other scheme to ease their lot.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He gave so much to them because he expected much from them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading If there were not to be great exertions, they would have asked, why their sturdy frames, their eager muscular force?
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He worked his men twelve hours a day, and, had they thought about it, they would have been astounded by any idea of working less.
