used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Why, do you feel as badly as that, Starlight?”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading “Why, do you feel as badly as that, Starlight?”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
a youthful male person
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
chokingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃoʊ.kɪŋ/
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading “Why, do you feel as badly as that, Starlight?”
at or to or toward the front
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
and nothing more
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
a particular point in time
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
not any; not one
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
nodverbUS /nɑːd/
express or signify by nodding
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
by chance
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
established beyond doubt
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
sobverbUS /sɑːb/
weep convulsively
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
express in speech
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
StarlightnounUS /ˈstɑːrlaɪt/
the light of the stars
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
Starlights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Why, do you feel as badly as that, Starlight?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Well, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Captain Lewis tried to speak kindly, but, big boy or no, real tears stood in Starlights eyes.
the act of using
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
(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, then, let me see,” and the Captain leaned forward on his rude desk and thought a moment.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Starlight gave a nod which meant that he did feel just as badly as that, and at the same time succeeded in choking down what he feared might have proved an audible little sob.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, do you feel as badly as that, Starlight?”
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading O, Starlight, I'm sorry, but I do not see how you can possibly be of the least use in the world.”
