used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
admittingverbUS /ædˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
chimedverbUS /tʃaɪmd/
past form of “chime” — emit a sound
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
detectverbUS /dɪˈtekt/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
doubtfullyadverb
in a doubtful manner
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
divisible by two
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
the organ of sight
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
a boy or man
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
McRae
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
microscopenounUS /ˈmaɪkrəskoʊp/
magnifier of the image of small objects
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
pastedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪstɪd/
affixed or as if affixed with glue or paste
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
a separate part of a whole
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
PITCHINGnounUS /ˈpɪtʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of pitcher on a baseball team
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
Robbie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And how could he do it?" put in Robbie.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
be standing; be upright
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
a special situation
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
(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 "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Even if it were so well done that an eye couldn't detect it, a microscope would give it away."
WHIRLWINDnounUS /ˈwɜːrlwɪnd/
a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
which person or people
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
WillisnounUS /ˈwɪlɪs/
English physician who was a pioneer in the study of the brain (1621-1675)
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading WHIRLWIND PITCHING "A fellow who would do a thing like that is taking long chances," said McRae doubtfully.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The name would have to be cut from one piece of paper and pasted on another, wouldn't it?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Even admitting that they might get your name from a check or letter, I don't see how a thing like that could stand inspection for a minute," chimed in Willis.
