used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
amazingadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
AutomobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
blanklyadverbUS /ˈblæŋkli/
in a blank and uncomprehending manner
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
bulldozingverbUS /ˈbʊldoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “bulldoze” — flatten with or as if with a bulldozer
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
challengingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæləndʒɪŋ/
requiring full use of your abilities or resources
From this reading He failed to meet Mr. Hardy’s fixed, challenging glance.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
DenseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
employernounUS /emˈplɔɪər/
a person or firm that employs workers
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
exceededverbUS /ɪkˈsiːdəd/
past form of “exceed” — be greater in scope or size than some standard
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
the organ of sight
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He failed to meet Mr. Hardy’s fixed, challenging glance.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
start firing a weapon
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading He failed to meet Mr. Hardy’s fixed, challenging glance.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He failed to meet Mr. Hardy’s fixed, challenging glance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
HardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
Hardy'snounUS /ˈhɑːrdiz/
possessive form of “hardy” — United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)
From this reading He failed to meet Mr. Hardy’s fixed, challenging glance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
JaspernounUS /ˈdʒæspər/
an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
latentadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtənt/
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/
the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
come together
From this reading He failed to meet Mr. Hardy’s fixed, challenging glance.
methodsnounUS /ˈmeθədz/
plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
a form of address for a man
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
proprietornounUS /prəˈpraɪətər/
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
Saxton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
term of address for a man
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
thick-skinnedadjective
insensitive to criticism
From this reading Dense and thick-skinned as Jasper Saxton was, he could not fail to realize that his bulldozing methods had exceeded the limit in the present instance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As to Mr. Hardy, he gave a start and stared blankly at his employer.
under normal conditions
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
the words that are spoken
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading A SERIOUS CHARGE Ben had never been more astonished in his life than he was now at the amazing words of the proprietor of the Saxton Automobile Works.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What was that you said, sir?” he demanded, and Ben detected a latent fire in his father’s eye that was not usually there.
