used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
Auchinleck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
battledverbUS /ˈbætəld/
past form of “battle” — battle or contend against in or as if in a battle
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading I peered between them to size the crop up.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading I peered between them to size the crop up.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
move gently or carefully
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
interstellaradjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈstelər/
between or among stars
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
life-forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
Ludlow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
the force of workers available
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
monkeynounUS /ˈmʌŋki/
any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
not any; not one
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading I peered between them to size the crop up.
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
recruitingverbUS /rəˈkruːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “recruit” — register formally as a participant or member
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
rentedverbUS /ˈrentɪd/
past form of “rent” — let for money
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
shieldwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading I peered between them to size the crop up.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
Stebbins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was our first day of recruiting on the planet, and the alien life-forms had lined up for hundreds of feet back from my rented office.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading My three staff men, Auchinleck, Stebbins and Ludlow, walked shieldwise in front of me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
wildcatnounUS /ˈwaɪldkæt/
an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
in the company of; together with
From this reading As I came down the block from the hotel, I could hear and see and smell them with ease.
zoonounUS /zuː/
the facility where wild animals are housed for exhibition
From this reading Getting specimens for the interstellar zoo was no problem--they battled for the honor--but now I had to fight like a wildcat to keep a display from making a monkey of me!
