used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
barracksnounUS /ˈbærəks/
plural of “barrack” — a building or group of buildings used to house military personnel
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
Bolton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
lacking funds
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
carcassnounUS /ˈkɑːrkəs/
the dead body of an animal especially one slaughtered and dressed for food
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
cast-ironadjective
extremely robust
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
dyedadjectiveUS /daɪd/
(used of color) artificially produced; not natural
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
opinion or judgment
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
fingeredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪŋɡərd/
having or resembling a finger or fingers; often used in combination
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
set down according to a plan
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
twinkleverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəl/
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Slowly a twinkle came into the man’s eyes and he broke into a roar of laughter.
undisguisedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪsˈɡaɪzd/
plain to see
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
venomouslyadverb
in a very malevolent manner
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I wasn’t,” he shot out venomously, “I’d certainly put a bullet in yer carcass.
at the time that
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The barracks boss stared at Bill in undisguised amazement, while the others fingered their rifles.
winnernounUS /ˈwɪnər/
the contestant who wins the contest
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
woolnounUS /wʊl/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
yer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I took a fancy to yer when I first laid eyes on yer and I’m sorry for yer now.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When it comes to cast-iron, dyed in the wool _nerve_?” he choked, “you’re sure a winner, Bill—Bolton!
