used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
arouseverbUS /ərˈaʊz/
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
GeenounUS /dʒiː/
a unit of force equal to the force exerted by gravity; used to indicate the force to which a body is subjected when it is accelerated
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
gongnounUS /ɡɔːŋ/
a percussion instrument consisting of a metal plate that is struck with a softheaded drumstick
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading “You must remember, my son, this is not a hotel.”
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
and nothing more
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
Leighton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
losin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “You must remember, my son, this is not a hotel.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “You must remember, my son, this is not a hotel.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
OARSnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
To recall to mind.
From this reading “You must remember, my son, this is not a hotel.”
require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
SAILSnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
SCREWnounUS /skruː/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
a male human offspring
From this reading “You must remember, my son, this is not a hotel.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
up to a particular time
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading “Gee!” he exclaimed as he tumbled out of bed, “I’m losin’ time.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading But I reckon I’d better wait till breakfast is over.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Just what is all this hurry about?” asked Mrs. Leighton.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A BOAT WITHOUT SAILS, SCREW, OR OARS It did not require a gong to arouse Andy in the morning, but it did call for a gentle shaking from his mother’s hand.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You must remember, my son, this is not a hotel.”
