used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
an occurrence of something
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
corralverbUS /kərˈæl/
enclose in a corral
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
to an extreme degree
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading "I think not; there seems too much excitement for that."
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
gallopingverbUS /ˈɡæləpɪŋ/
-ing form of “gallop” — ride at a galloping pace
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
GauchosnounUS /ˈɡaʊtʃoʊz/
plural of “gaucho” — a cowboy of the South American pampas
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
temporary military shelter
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Killin' pigs, I t'ink."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
Killin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Killin' pigs, I t'ink."
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "I think not; there seems too much excitement for that."
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I think not; there seems too much excitement for that."
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
piggishadjective
resembling swine; coarsely gluttonous or greedy
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
pigsnounUS /pɪɡz/
plural of “pig” — domestic swine
From this reading "Killin' pigs, I t'ink."
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "I think not; there seems too much excitement for that."
t'ink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Killin' pigs, I t'ink."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "I think not; there seems too much excitement for that."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I think not; there seems too much excitement for that."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "I think not; there seems too much excitement for that."
unaccountableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbəl/
not to be accounted for or explained
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
under normal conditions
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There certainly was a considerable noise of piggish voices, and the Gauchos were galloping about in an unaccountable manner, but, as is usually the case, a little investigation explained the seemingly unaccountable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Returning to the hut, they observed that the Gauchos were exceedingly busy round their corral, or enclosure for cattle.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What can they be about?" said Lawrence, as they drew near.
