used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
any thing at all
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
for the reason that
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
botheringverbUS /ˈbɑːðərɪŋ/
-ing form of “bother” — take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
an occurrence of something
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
ElknounUS /elk/
large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called “elk” in Europe and “moose” in North America
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
an opposing military force
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
ESCAPESnounUS /ɪˈskeɪps/
plural of “escape” — the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
fleeingverbUS /ˈfliːɪŋ/
-ing form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
HardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
indignantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdɪɡnəntliː/
in an indignant manner
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
interceptverbUS /ˌɪntərˈsept/
seize on its way
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
by chance
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
motor-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
and nothing more
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
perfunctoryadjectiveUS /pərˈfʌŋktəri/
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
remindverbUS /riˈmaɪnd/
put in the mind of someone
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
reservoirnounUS /ˈrezəvwɑːr/
a large or extra supply of something
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
Roy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
carry out
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "They remind me of those state police at the Elk City reservoir," said Roy indignantly, "They don't take any interest in anything they don't do themselves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE ENEMY ESCAPES Evidently the detectives were little interested in the case.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They asked a few perfunctory questions and went away without making any effort to intercept the fleeing motor-boat.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading "No, Roy," explained Captain Hardy, "I think it must be because we're working with the secret service.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Or maybe they think the matter isn't worth bothering with because we're only boys."
