used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
declaringverbUS /dɪˈklerɪŋ/
-ing form of “declare” — state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
take in solid food
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
set up or found
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
missionariesnounUS /ˈmɪʃəneriz/
plural of “missionary” — someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
not any; not one
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
pigtailnoun
a plait of braided hair
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
PingverbUS /pɪŋ/
hit with a pinging noise
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
strollingverbUS /ˈstroʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
a special situation
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
travellersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location
From this reading After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins of an old brick building.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
Wang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They entered it, and found that there were no signs of its being used by any one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had given them.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out.
