used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Here’s another; why is a Ford like a poisonous snake?
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “Here’s another; why is a Ford like a poisonous snake?
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
bossyadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːsi/
offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
FordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading “Here’s another; why is a Ford like a poisonous snake?
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Give it up?
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
gruffadjectiveUS /ɡrʌf/
brusque and surly and forbidding
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading “Why, we’re just sitting in it laughing,” Harry said.
Here's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Here’s another; why is a Ford like a poisonous snake?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Here’s another; why is a Ford like a poisonous snake?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Why, we’re just sitting in it laughing,” Harry said.
and nothing more
From this reading “Why, we’re just sitting in it laughing,” Harry said.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading “Why, we’re just sitting in it laughing,” Harry said.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
the force of workers available
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
poisonousadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪzənəs/
having the qualities or effects of a poison
From this reading “Here’s another; why is a Ford like a poisonous snake?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
sheriffsnounUS /ˈʃerəfs/
plural of “sheriff” — the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading “Why, we’re just sitting in it laughing,” Harry said.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading “Here’s another; why is a Ford like a poisonous snake?
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
in the near future
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
precisely as stated
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, we’re just sitting in it laughing,” Harry said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, we’re just sitting in it laughing,” Harry said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were three men in that car and as soon as they caught up with us, I knew they were sheriffs or detectives or something like that, on account of their being big and kind of bossy looking.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading They got out and came up to our car and one of them said, very loud and gruff, “What are you doing with that car?”
