used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
applicantsnounUS /ˈæplɪkənts/
plural of “applicant” — a person who requests or seeks something such as assistance or employment or admission
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Rip asked; “you never let us know!”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Well, how did we know?”
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
firemennounUS /ˈfaɪrmən/
plural of “fireman” — play in which children pretend to put out a fire
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, how did we know?”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Well, how did we know?”
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Rip asked; “you never let us know!”
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
engage in
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Rip asked; “you never let us know!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
premiumnounUS /ˈpriːmiəm/
payment for insurance
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
RipverbUS /rɪp/
tear or be torn violently
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
the state of being asleep
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
they'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Rip asked; “you never let us know!”
volunteerverbUS /ˌvɑːlənˈtɪr/
tell voluntarily
From this reading As he told them later, they’d make a fine lot of applicants for volunteer firemen, sleeping as sound as that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Well, how did we know?”
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, how did we know?”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They met Rip, his uncle and Billy before they were half way.
Westy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Westy explained to them that time had been at a premium and so that part of the matter was dropped.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Rip asked; “you never let us know!”
