used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Guess I'll be going to school now."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
bottlesnounUS /ˈbɑːtəlz/
plural of “bottle” — a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
bureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
chewverbUS /tʃuː/
chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
cinnamonnounUS /ˈsɪnəmən/
aromatic bark used as a spice
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
devouredverbUS /dɪˈvaʊərd/
past form of “devour” — destroy completely
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading He turned guiltily, and yawned to hide his embarrassment.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
FletchernounUS /ˈfletʃər/
prolific English dramatist who collaborated with Francis Beaumont and many other dramatists (1579-1625)
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
forkfull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
set up or found
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
friedadjectiveUS /fraɪd/
cooked by frying in fat
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
fumblingadjectiveUS /ˈfʌmbəlɪŋ/
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
the act of departing
From this reading "Guess I'll be going to school now."
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading "Guess I'll be going to school now."
guiltilyadverb
in the manner of someone who has committed an offense
From this reading He turned guiltily, and yawned to hide his embarrassment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading He turned guiltily, and yawned to hide his embarrassment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He turned guiltily, and yawned to hide his embarrassment.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Guess I'll be going to school now."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
immediately past
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Guess I'll be going to school now."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
platesnounUS /pleɪts/
plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
PLAYSnounUS /pleɪz/
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
an educational institution
From this reading "Guess I'll be going to school now."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
sneakedverbUS /sniːkt/
past form of “sneak” — to go stealthily or furtively
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
in the near future
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
spicenounUS /spaɪs/
aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
tinsnounUS /tɪnz/
plural of “tin” — a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
tiptoeverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊ/
walk on one's toes
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
the upper part of anything
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading HE PLAYS A TRICK ON THE DOCTOR In the morning, John sneaked from the table as soon as the last forkfull of fried potatoes had been devoured.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned guiltily, and yawned to hide his embarrassment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was looking for a piece of cinnamon to chew," he explained.
at the time that
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Mrs. Fletcher brought the breakfast plates out to the kitchen sink, she found him on tiptoe, with one hand fumbling among the spice tins and bottles in the top bureau drawer.
yawnedverbUS /jɔːnd/
past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired
From this reading He turned guiltily, and yawned to hide his embarrassment.
