used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
matters of personal concern
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "I don't believe it.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
brilliantlyadverbUS /ˈbrɪljəntli/
with brightness
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
Clifton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
DAVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
dismayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmeɪd/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't believe it.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't believe it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I don't believe it.
kidnappedverbUS /ˈkɪdnæpt/
inflected form of “kidnap” — take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
KirknounUS /kɜːrk/
a Scottish church
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
by chance
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
RamblersnounUS /ˈræmblərz/
plural of “rambler” — a person who takes long walks in the country
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
Randall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
TalbotnounUS /ˈtælbət/
English inventor and pioneer in photography who published the first book illustrated with photographs (1800-1877)
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
a special situation
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
male cat
From this reading "Perhaps the thieves kidnapped him," suggested Tom Clifton, brilliantly.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
(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 DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading DAVE COMES BACK The Ramblers, as well as their companions, were thoroughly dismayed at the startling turn in affairs.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Some one must have stolen the boats," declared Sam Randall; "but what has become of Dave?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why should they do such a thing as that?" returned Kirk Talbot.
