used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you crazy?"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
Chief'snounUS /tʃiːfs/
possessive form of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading "Are you crazy?"
DallasnounUS /ˈdæləs/
a large commercial and industrial city in northeastern Texas located in the heart of the northern Texas oil fields
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" he exclaimed.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" he exclaimed.
not accessible to view
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
lilacsnounUS /ˈlaɪlæks/
plural of “lilac” — any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" he exclaimed.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
a human being
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
platesnounUS /pleɪts/
plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
SmashverbUS /smæʃ/
hit hard
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading ANOTHER LIE I had hidden myself among the lilacs but I could see quite plainly across the veranda into the big living-room.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
whackverbUS /wæk/
hit hard
From this reading Smash! went the plates on the floor, and whack went Big Chief's empty hands against Dallas' shoulders.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" he exclaimed.
which person or people
From this reading Dallas had sprung up and clutched the nearest person who happened to be Big Chief carrying a pile of plates in his hand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" he exclaimed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" he exclaimed.
