aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
(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 “That fellow, Mort, was like all of us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Well,” Jack grinned, “I wouldn’t call it that.
cowmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
demanding attention
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
a boy or man
From this reading “That fellow, Mort, was like all of us.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
grinnedverbUS /ɡrɪnd/
inflected form of “grin” — to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl
From this reading “Well,” Jack grinned, “I wouldn’t call it that.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well,” Jack grinned, “I wouldn’t call it that.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Well,” Jack grinned, “I wouldn’t call it that.
a small worthless amount
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “That fellow, Mort, was like all of us.
the force of workers available
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
Mort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That fellow, Mort, was like all of us.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
express in words
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That fellow, Mort, was like all of us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
male cat
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading PART OF THE SECRET “Men in tropical places don’t ask each other questions about their business any more than the cowmen do on the range,” Jack began.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “That fellow, Mort, was like all of us.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That fellow, Mort, was like all of us.
showing sorrow
From this reading Instead of being happy, he got to weeping, and wailing and crying on my shoulder.
(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 “Well,” Jack grinned, “I wouldn’t call it that.
at the time that
From this reading He didn’t say much when he was himself; but when he got——” “Happy!” suggested Tom.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well,” Jack grinned, “I wouldn’t call it that.
