used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
Allston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
put or send forth
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
ClingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
deem to be
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
convinceverbUS /kənˈvɪns/
make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
heroinenounUS /ˈheroʊən/
the main good female character in a work of fiction
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
horsebacknounUS /ˈhɔːrsbæk/
the back of a horse
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
melodramanounUS /ˈmelədrɑːmə/
an extravagant comedy in which action is more salient than characterization
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
moonlitadjectiveUS /ˈmuːnlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
motivatedadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊtəveɪtəd/
provided with a motive or given incentive for action
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
Roxie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
scowlingadjectiveUS /ˈskaʊlɪŋ/
sullen or unfriendly in appearance
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
in a serious manner
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
squarelyadverbUS /ˈskwerli/
directly and without evasion; not roundabout
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading The scene, like an act of melodrama, was not sufficiently motivated to convince him.
carry out
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading Here was a dark, scowling figure of a man on horseback planted squarely in the middle of the moonlit road--a villain made to order.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Allston, at first, was not inclined to take the situation seriously.
(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 And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And he--well, it looked as though he were cast for the part of hero.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Clinging to his arm, Allston felt the tight grip of Roxie’s warm fingers--the heroine if one wished so to consider her.
