used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then I recollected about the volcano."
alligatorsnounUS /ˈæləɡeɪtərz/
plural of “alligator” — leather made from alligator's hide
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
earthquakenounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
eggsnounUS /eɡz/
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
your parents
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
frit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!"
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
heerd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
kinderadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndər/
comparative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!"
immediately past
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
Lathrope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
staying power
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
McCarthynounUS /məˈkɑːrθi/
United States satirical novelist and literary critic (1912-1989)
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
Meldrum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
misternounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!"
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
nat'ral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
outlandishadjectiveUS /aʊtˈlændɪʃ/
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
the local environment
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
recollectedverbUS /ˌrekəˈlektɪd/
past form of “recollect” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Then I recollected about the volcano."
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
SnakesnounUS /sneɪks/
plural of “snake” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!"
express in words
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then I recollected about the volcano."
a special situation
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
up to a particular time
From this reading "I confess I was, at first," replied Mr Meldrum, "till I felt the earthquake.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!"
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
treadingverbUS /ˈtredɪŋ/
-ing form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
volcanonounUS /vɑːlˈkeɪnoʊ/
a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
From this reading Then I recollected about the volcano."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
wer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
at the time that
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
which person or people
From this reading "Snakes and alligators!" exclaimed Mr Lathrope, who was one of the last to get on his long legs and when he did so appeared to touch the ground as tenderly "as if he were a cat treading on hot eggs," as Mr McCarthy said.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
wurn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I wurn't clean took in, and thought the outlandish thing wer nat'ral, like the red rain I've heerd folks tell o' seeing in some parts of the world!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I guess you was startled, too, mister, and kinder frit!"
