used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
the state of being absent
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I don’t think nothing else,” answered the guide.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
of short duration or distance
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t think nothing else,” answered the guide.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading “I don’t think nothing else,” answered the guide.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
handledadjectiveUS /ˈhændəld/
having a usually specified type of handle
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
HastingsnounUS /ˈheɪstɪŋz/
United States architect who formed and important architectural firm with John Merven Carrere (1860-1929)
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
go away from a place
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
mussnoun
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “I don’t think nothing else,” answered the guide.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
be standing; be upright
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
not in physical motion
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
SwanverbUS /swɑːn/
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
having passed out of existence
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
villain's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
at the time that
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “I’ve handled a boat too long to go away and leave it without pulling it so far out on the bank that the current can’t carry it off.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You don’t think they have been stolen, do you?” exclaimed Arthur Hastings.
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stand still, or you’ll muss the ground up so that I can’t see the villain’s tracks.”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “Stand perfectly still, boys,” said Mr. Swan, when he and his young friends halted on the bank of the creek and discovered that their boats had vanished during their brief absence.
