used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
annoyancenounUS /əˈnɔɪəns/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
anybody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
maintain with or as if with a bet
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
CattynounUS /ˈkæti/
any of various units of weight used in southeastern Asia (especially a Chinese measure equal to 500 grams)
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
dinghynounUS /ˈdɪŋi/
a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
at any time
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
a boy or man
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
the act of departing
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
idee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
necksnounUS /neks/
plural of “neck” — the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
peeknounUS /piːk/
a secret look
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
get rid of
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
carry out
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Right out of a clear sky those great big hands came down on the backs of our necks and hung on.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
towin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
a source of difficulty
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
Wa-al
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I’ll own up I was surprised and, though Catty doesn’t like to admit he’s ever surprised, I’ll bet he was, too.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
which person or people
From this reading “Wa-al,” says the man, “who be you, and what’s the idee of towin’ me out here?”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I’ll bet he was so surprised he almost shed his ears and that’s about as surprised as a fellow can get without going to a lot of trouble and annoyance.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Next time I crawl into a dinghy you can believe I’m going to take a peek in to see if anybody’s there.
