used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
Bumpus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
consultingverbUS /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/
-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
coonnounUS /kuːn/
an eccentric or undignified rustic
From this reading Or it couldn't have been a frisky little 'coon' or 'possum,' I suppose?"
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or it couldn't have been a frisky little 'coon' or 'possum,' I suppose?"
past form of “deceive” — be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
friskyadjectiveUS /ˈfrɪski/
playful like a lively kitten
From this reading Or it couldn't have been a frisky little 'coon' or 'possum,' I suppose?"
GiraffenounUS /dʒərˈæf/
tallest living quadruped; having a spotted coat and small horns and very long neck and legs; of savannahs of tropical Africa
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Twa'n't a rolling stone, now, I take it?
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Twa'n't a rolling stone, now, I take it?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Or it couldn't have been a frisky little 'coon' or 'possum,' I suppose?"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading THE MESSAGE OF THE SPLIT STICK.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Twa'n't a rolling stone, now, I take it?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MESSAGE OF THE SPLIT STICK.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or it couldn't have been a frisky little 'coon' or 'possum,' I suppose?"
possumnounUS /ˈpɑːsəm/
nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America
From this reading Or it couldn't have been a frisky little 'coon' or 'possum,' I suppose?"
uttered with a trill
From this reading "Twa'n't a rolling stone, now, I take it?
cut with a saw
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
SPLITverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading THE MESSAGE OF THE SPLIT STICK.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading THE MESSAGE OF THE SPLIT STICK.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "Twa'n't a rolling stone, now, I take it?
dependable
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
express a supposition
From this reading Or it couldn't have been a frisky little 'coon' or 'possum,' I suppose?"
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
carry out
From this reading "Twa'n't a rolling stone, now, I take it?
TEMPORARYadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MESSAGE OF THE SPLIT STICK.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
Twa'n't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Twa'n't a rolling stone, now, I take it?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A TEMPORARY halt had been called, and the scouts were consulting as to what this new development might mean.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Sure you saw a man, are you, Bumpus?" asked Giraffe, as though he had an idea the stout boy might have deceived himself.
