used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
weapons considered collectively
From this reading "Arms,---leastways, cartridges or gunpowder.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
CARGOnounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
cartridgesnounUS /ˈkɑːrtrədʒəz/
plural of “cartridge” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
From this reading "Arms,---leastways, cartridges or gunpowder.
CONTRABANDadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntrəbænd/
distributed or sold illicitly
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
d'you
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
Dunno
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
figurativelyadverbUS /fɪˈɡjʊrətɪvli/
in a figurative sense
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
filibusternounUS /ˈfɪləbʌstər/
a legislator who gives long speeches in an effort to delay or obstruct legislation that he (or she) opposes
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
filibuster's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
gruffadjectiveUS /ɡrʌf/
brusque and surly and forbidding
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
gunpowdernounUS /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/
a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks
From this reading "Arms,---leastways, cartridges or gunpowder.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
Hugh's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
leastwaysadverb
if nothing else (“leastwise” is informal and “leastways” is colloquial)
From this reading "Arms,---leastways, cartridges or gunpowder.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
p'rhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
prickedverbUS /prɪkt/
past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/
with little or no delay
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
relapsingnounUS /rɪˈlæpsɪŋ/
a failure to maintain a higher state
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
slangverbUS /slæŋ/
use slang or vulgar language
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
smuggleverbUS /ˈsmʌɡəl/
import or export without paying customs duties
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
smuggler'snounUS /ˈsmʌɡlərz/
possessive form of “smuggler” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
to a small degree or extent
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
hard to endure
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
Vinton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dunno much about it," Captain Vinton answered in a somewhat gruff tone, "but it looks to me mighty like a filibuster's craft, or p'rhaps a smuggler's."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
at the time that
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "What on earth can they be trying to smuggle?" was Hugh's eager question, to which the captain replied promptly:
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading At the word "filibuster," the boys---figuratively speaking---pricked up their ears.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading A CONTRABAND CARGO "Well, what d'you know about that?" queried Billy, easily relapsing into slang when the first few minutes' surprise had worn off.
