used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
BartnounUS /bɑːrt/
a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
corporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/
a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
DEEPENINGnounUS /ˈdiːpənɪŋ/
a process of becoming deeper and more profound
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
divisionnounUS /dɪˈvɪʒən/
an army unit large enough to sustain combat
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't wonder," replied Frank.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
He'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't wonder," replied Frank.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
insurancenounUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊrəns/
promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
and nothing more
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
lieutenant'snounUS /luːˈtenənts/
possessive form of “lieutenant” — a commissioned military officer
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/
with little or no delay
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
regimentverbUS /ˈredʒəmənt/
subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "I don't wonder," replied Frank.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
sullenlyadverb
in a sullen manner
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But these had little interest just then, and their asking was really a matter for headquarters.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
whackverbUS /wæk/
hit hard
From this reading "He'd be a pretty poor insurance risk if these people could get a whack at him."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The corporal asked a few formal questions as to the lieutenant's regiment and division, which were answered sullenly though promptly.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading A DEEPENING MYSTERY "He came off his perch mighty quick," remarked Bart to Frank in a whisper.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "I don't wonder," replied Frank.
