used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading It certainly was a very bad-tempered-looking creek, but Cal Smith wasn't afraid of it.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
bad-tempered-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly was a very bad-tempered-looking creek, but Cal Smith wasn't afraid of it.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
Cal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It certainly was a very bad-tempered-looking creek, but Cal Smith wasn't afraid of it.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
CreeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
dickensnounUS /ˈdɪkənz/
a word used in exclamations of confusion
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
apart from; not including
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
the act of departing
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
instructedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
kidverbUS /kɪd/
tell false information to for fun
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
engage in
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
one of four equal parts
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
stakedverbUS /steɪkt/
past form of “stake” — put at risk
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
be standing; be upright
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Cal Smith was not going to let any kid try to swim a horse across that creek by himself.
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly was a very bad-tempered-looking creek, but Cal Smith wasn't afraid of it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
(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 THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
at the time that
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He had brought along all his sons, and a couple of ranch hands, and instructed them to stand by with ropes, while he took Whitey about a quarter of a mile up the creek, and the two of them plunged in.
WhiteynounUS /ˈwaɪtiː/
(slang) offensive names for a White man
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE T UP AND DOWN The next day Cal Smith said that a joke was all very well, but twenty-five miles was far enough to carry it, and he staked Whitey to a horse to make the rest of the trip with, Whitey to return the horse on his way back.
Zumbro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they reached Zumbro Creek it hadn't gone down a bit, except to go down stream, and it was doing that like the dickens.
