used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
arguingnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːɪŋ/
a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
arm-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
BartnounUS /bɑːrt/
a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading "Yes," said Bart eagerly.
Bartholomew's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
Bartie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
a youthful male person
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
absence of light or illumination
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
diminutiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
very small
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
doubtfullyadverb
in a doubtful manner
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading "Yes," said Bart eagerly.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
eying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
failingnounUS /ˈfeɪlɪŋ/
a flaw or weak point
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
squeakedverbUS /skwiːkt/
past form of “squeak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
carry out
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
belonging to which person
From this reading "I might try," squeaked a diminutive boy, whose dark eyes had an unfortunate twist.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
Wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
wrinkledadjectiveUS /ˈrɪŋkəld/
marked by wrinkles
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
wussnounUS /wʌs/
a person who is physically weak and ineffectual
From this reading "Wouldn’t be much wuss," observed Bartholomew’s grandfather, leaning forward in his old red arm-chair and steadily eying a failing fire as if arguing this matter with the embers.
Ye-s-s
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ye-s-s, Bartie," said his grandmother doubtfully, looking out of the window upon the water wrinkled by the rising wind.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," said Bart eagerly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Then he added, "You could take the small boat."
