used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
Despard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading A more generous man would have tried to make it easier for her, to have helped her.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
willing to give and share unstintingly
From this reading A more generous man would have tried to make it easier for her, to have helped her.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
glovesnounUS /ɡlʌvz/
plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading A more generous man would have tried to make it easier for her, to have helped her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
HEROISMnounUS /ˈheroʊɪzəm/
the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)
From this reading RUBY’S HEROISM.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
something that is lost
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
engage in
From this reading A more generous man would have tried to make it easier for her, to have helped her.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A more generous man would have tried to make it easier for her, to have helped her.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A more generous man would have tried to make it easier for her, to have helped her.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
RubynounUS /ˈruːbi/
a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
RUBY'SnounUS /ˈruːbiz/
possessive form of “ruby” — a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading RUBY’S HEROISM.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
StrodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading A more generous man would have tried to make it easier for her, to have helped her.
twistingnounUS /ˈtwɪstɪŋ/
the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He smiled to himself as he watched her sitting there, nervously twisting up the gloves she had taken off, and, obviously, at a loss to continue.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Despard knew exactly what Ruby Strode had come to ask.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He saw his opportunity "for getting a little of his own back," as he would have put it.
