AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
Abner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses.
bargainnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
blindnounUS /blaɪnd/
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
conscientiousadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnʃiˈenʃəs/
characterized by extreme care and great effort
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses.
cultivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltəveɪtɪd/
(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
excellentadjectiveUS /ˈeksələnt/
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
EXPOSINGverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “expose” — expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
eyenounUS /aɪ/
the organ of sight
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses.
FRAUDnounUS /frɔːd/
intentional deception resulting in injury to another person
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/
usually; as a rule
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
HerbertnounUS /ˈhɜːrbərt/
United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
Holden's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
managingverbUS /ˈmænədʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
meritsnounUS /ˈmerəts/
plural of “merit” — any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
misstatingverbUS /mɪsˈsteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “misstate” — state something incorrectly
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
overreachedverbUS /ˈoʊvərriːtʃt/
past form of “overreach” — fail by aiming too high or trying too hard
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
possessornounUS /pəˈzesər/
a person who owns something
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
preciseadjectiveUS /prɪˈsaɪs/
sharply exact or accurate or delimited
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
produceverbUS /prəˈduːs/
bring forth or yield
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
propensitynounUS /prəˈpensɪti/
an inclination to do something
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
scruplesnounUS /ˈskruːpəlz/
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
suppliesnounUS /səˈplaɪz/
plural of “supply” — an amount of something available for use
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
swappingverbUS /ˈswɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “swap” — exchange or give (something) in exchange for
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
tempernounUS /ˈtempər/
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
tolerablyadverb
in an acceptable (but not outstanding) manner
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
tradedverbUS /ˈtreɪdɪd/
past form of “trade” — engage in the trade of
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
troubledadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəld/
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
vegetablesnounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəlz/
plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading He had thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to produce supplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
viciousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʃəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he had himself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horse of excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with a very vicious temper.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading EXPOSING A FRAUD It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was.
YankeenounUS /ˈjæŋki/
an American who lives in the North (especially during the American Civil War)
From this reading He had the Yankee propensity for “swapping,” and from time to time traded horses, generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerably sharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstating the merits of his horses.
