used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
react verbally
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
any person at all
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
CATCHERnounUS /ˈkætʃɜːr/
(baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
codenounUS /koʊd/
a set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
confrontingverbUS /kənˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
CRAIG
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “One finger, eh?” he thought.
else's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally he stopped.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading “One finger, eh?” he thought.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
a long fixed look
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
JudgingnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “One finger, eh?” he thought.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
pluckyadjectiveUS /ˈplʌki/
marked by courage and determination in the face of difficulties or danger; robust and uninhibited
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
Sam'snounUS /sæmz/
possessive form of “sam” — a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Finally he stopped.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “One finger, eh?” he thought.
propel through the air
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
very small
From this reading Judging the distance as best he might, his gaze on the tiny light that glowed five stories above him, he stepped slowly backward across the roof.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
male cat
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
tremulouslyadverbUS /ˈtremjələsli/
in a tremulous manner
From this reading CATCHER CRAIG Tom smiled a bit tremulously as he heard Sam’s plucky answer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, it couldn’t be that, for in their signal code one finger meant a fast ball, and it was beyond Tom’s or anyone else’s power to throw a fast ball at the angle confronting him.
