used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
aeroplanenoun
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
airshipnounUS /ˈerʃɪp/
a steerable self-propelled aircraft
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
ANCESTORnounUS /ˈænsestər/
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
argumentsnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/
plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
a youthful male person
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
canyonsnounUS /ˈkænjənz/
plural of “canyon” — a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
confineverbUS /kənˈfaɪn/
place limits on (extent or amount or access)
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
permission to do something
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
communicated in words
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
set up or found
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
the sound of laughing
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
makernounUS /ˈmeɪkər/
a person who makes things
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
a form of address for a man
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
OsbornenounUS /ˈɔːzbɔːrn/
English playwright (1929-1994)
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Mr. Osborne being the maker of the airship and having business faith in it, he had to confine his arguments to other reasons.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
Pittsburg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
predictedverbUS /prɪˈdɪktɪd/
past form of “predict” — make a prediction about; tell in advance
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
Roy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
scalpedverbUS /skælpt/
past form of “scalp” — sell illegally, as on the black market
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
skimmingnounUS /ˈskɪmɪŋ/
the act of removing floating material from the surface of a liquid
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
a male human offspring
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
carry out
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
urgeverbUS /ɜːrdʒ/
force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
UtahnounUS /ˈjuːtɔː/
a state in the western United States; settled in 1847 by Mormons led by Brigham Young
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
precisely as stated
From this reading He did not urge very strongly the risk to Roy in skimming over mountains, plains and canyons in an aeroplane.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LOOKING UP AN ANCESTOR But Mr. Osborne was not as quick to give his consent as Roy predicted.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading As the boy and his father rode home that evening, Mr. Osborne found many reasons why he did not wish his son to go to Utah to “take a chance of dying of thirst on some desert, or of being scalped by Indians,” as he expressed it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
you've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The principal reason you’re afraid,” urged Roy, with a laugh, “is that you’ve never been west of Pittsburg.
