used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
clasping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
rid of obstructions
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
convenientlyadverbUS /kənˈviːnjəntli/
in a convenient manner
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You had scraped together the money, principal and interest?"
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The other half is the most important.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
of great significance or value
From this reading The other half is the most important.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading You had scraped together the money, principal and interest?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The other half is the most important.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other half is the most important.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading You had scraped together the money, principal and interest?"
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
scrapedverbUS /skreɪpt/
past form of “scrape” — scratch repeatedly
From this reading You had scraped together the money, principal and interest?"
express in words
From this reading Don't tell me any more about that part of the business.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All that's clear enough," he said, leaning back and clasping his hands round his knee.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading You had scraped together the money, principal and interest?"
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You owed a little money, and that means of escape-- though destruction would be the better word--always _is_ placed conveniently near at hand.
