used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
move towards
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
Billee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
a youthful male person
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
BudnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
cowboynounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
one or the other of two
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
footingnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
GERMSnounUS /dʒɜːrmz/
plural of “germ” — anything that provides inspiration for later work
From this reading "GERMS!"
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
milder-tempered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
noiselessadjective
making no sound
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
Pete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
Pocut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
poniesnounUS /ˈpoʊniz/
plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
ranchersnounUS /ˈræntʃərz/
plural of “rancher” — a person who owns or operates a ranch
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
steersnounUS /stɪrz/
plural of “steer” — an indication of potential opportunity
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Pocut Pete did not become aware of the approach of the boy ranchers and Old Billee until they were almost upon him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was either so intent on what he was doing, or else the fact that the ponies were on a grassy footing made their advance practically noiseless, that, seemingly, he heard nothing.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Something "mighty queer," as Bud had said in a whisper to his chums.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading However it was, the cowboy, about whom Bud entertained suspicious, kept on with what he was doing--something strange to one of the milder-tempered steers.
