used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
advertiseverbUS /ˈædvərtaɪz/
call attention to
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
any thing at all
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
have
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
breakfasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
buyingnounUS /ˈbaɪɪŋ/
the act of buying
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
clothing in general
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
curiositiesnounUS /ˌkjʊriˈɑːsətiz/
plural of “curiosity” — a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
true confidential information
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
eggnounUS /eɡ/
animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
exhibitverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
flat-bottomedadjective
having a flat bottom
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
goatnounUS /ɡoʊt/
any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
GoosenounUS /ɡuːs/
web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
grizzlynounUS /ˈɡrɪzli/
powerful brownish-yellow bear of the uplands of western North America
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
guaranteedverbUS /ˌɡerənˈtiːd/
past form of “guarantee” — give surety or assume responsibility
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
hardwarenounUS /ˈhɑːrdwer/
major items of military weaponry (as tanks or missile)
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
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 These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
loungers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
engage in
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
milkedverbUS /mɪlkt/
past form of “milk” — take milk from female mammals
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
as might be expected
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
easily agitated
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
purchasenounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/
the acquisition of something for payment
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
shopkeepernounUS /ˈʃɑːpkiːpər/
a merchant who owns or manages a shop
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
Slown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
SOLVEDadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
in the near future
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
move hurridly
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
store'snounUS /stɔːrz/
possessive form of “store” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Questions soon drew from the Farmer enough details of the strange doings on Goose Creek to make a very good story.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
trapsnounUS /træps/
plural of “trap” — a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
uncannyadjectiveUS /ənˈkæni/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
precisely as stated
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
waresnounUS /werz/
plural of “ware” — articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: “silverware”, “software”
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His principal errand there was the buying of two huge steel traps guaranteed to hold anything up to a grizzly bear in size.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
which person or people
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He was buying the huge traps to catch some uncanny creature which visited his farm at night and carried off whole clothes lines.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MYSTERY SOLVED Farmer Slown arose early, milked the goat with nervous speed, breakfasted on one less egg than usual and started for the village in his flat-bottomed boat.
witnessesnounUS /ˈwɪtnəsəz/
plural of “witness” — someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading These two traps having long been on exhibit in a hardware store window as curiosities to draw a crowd and to help advertise the store’s wares, their purchase by the Farmer very naturally aroused the curiosity of the shopkeeper and of several village loungers who happened to be witnesses of the sale.
