used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FIRE ON THE PLAINS.
accordionnounUS /əˈkɔːrdiən/
a portable box-shaped free-reed instrument; the reeds are made to vibrate by air from the bellows controlled by the player
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
anew
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
a youthful male person
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
cook'snounUS /kʊks/
possessive form of “cook” — someone who cooks food
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
cow-boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
being one more than seven
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
start firing a weapon
From this reading A FIRE ON THE PLAINS.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
Hugh's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
the sound of laughing
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
the force of workers available
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A FIRE ON THE PLAINS.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
PLAINSnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading A FIRE ON THE PLAINS.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
quadrillenoun
music for dancing the quadrille
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
restrainverbUS /riˈstreɪn/
to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
round-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
cut with a saw
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
in the near future
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
carry out
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FIRE ON THE PLAINS.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of an evening the cook's accordion was again brought out, and the men sang and, to Hugh's amusement, danced.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
at the time that
From this reading He thought the proposal was a joke when it was first made, but he soon saw that it was quite serious.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had declined to take part in it, saying that he had never danced since he was a little boy; but it was as much as he could do to restrain his laughter, upon seeing the gravity with which eight of the cow-boys went through a quadrille to the music of the accordion.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading After the hard work at the round-up the journey north seemed almost a holiday.
