used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading “I am afraid you are right, Rodney.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am afraid you are right, Rodney.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Maybe the Injuns caught an’ killed him.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I am afraid you are right, Rodney.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
borderman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
Casbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Maybe the Injuns caught an’ killed him.”
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
frontiersmannoun
a man who lives on the frontier
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
death of a person
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Maybe the Injuns caught an’ killed him.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I am afraid you are right, Rodney.
Injuns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maybe the Injuns caught an’ killed him.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Maybe the Injuns caught an’ killed him.”
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 “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
by chance
From this reading Maybe the Injuns caught an’ killed him.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
reappearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “I am afraid you are right, Rodney.
Rodney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
saferadjectiveUS /ˈseɪfər/
comparative of “safe” — free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
a person, without saying who
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Don’t you think somebody ought to go out and try to hunt him up?”
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It won’t be any safer for us than it was for him,” answered the borderman, with a grave shake of his head.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Something must surely have happened to Sam, or he wouldn’t stay away as long as this,” said Rodney to Casbury, after half the night had passed without the old frontiersman reappearing.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I am afraid you are right, Rodney.
