used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “No,” said Billie, still in a kind of daze.
anew
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
any person at all
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
for the reason that
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No,” said Billie, still in a kind of daze.
Billie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
dazenounUS /deɪz/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading “No,” said Billie, still in a kind of daze.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “No,” said Billie, still in a kind of daze.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
and nothing more
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
Laura's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
not any; not one
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
past form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
provingverbUS /ˈpruːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “prove” — be shown or be found to be
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
precisely, exactly
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “No,” said Billie, still in a kind of daze.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
not in physical motion
From this reading “No,” said Billie, still in a kind of daze.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
a special situation
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
the act of using
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
precisely as stated
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
VinounUS /vaɪ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “It looks like machinery of some kind, but we have no way of proving that it is the stolen invention.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Oh, but how do we know?” protested Laura.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But then again——” “Oh, I think Laura’s right,” put in Vi, to whom this new find of Billie’s was not very interesting.
worthlessadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrθləs/
lacking in usefulness or value
From this reading “It may be just some old worthless thing that has been put up here because it is of no use to anybody.
