used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
brandynounUS /ˈbrændi/
distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
butcherverbUS /ˈbʊtʃər/
kill (animals) usually for food consumption
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
calfnounUS /kæf/
young of domestic cattle
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
an occurrence of something
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
compunctionnounUS /kəmˈpʌŋkʃən/
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
disjointing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
dismemberingverbUS /dɪˈsmembərɪŋ/
-ing form of “dismember” — separate the limbs from the body
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
take in liquids
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
fellow-men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
Goffs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
LINERnounUS /ˈlaɪnər/
(baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
not any; not one
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
PersonallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
carry out
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Drink this, Charley"--he had poured out some brandy and handed it to his brother.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Personally, he had no more compunction about dismembering his fellow-men than a butcher had in disjointing a calf--it was his business.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ON BOARD THE AMERICAN LINER Arthur returned with his case of knives.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He saw his brother would be worse than useless about him in the task he had in hand.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "And now put on your hat and go out; take a cab down to Goffs.
