used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
brother-in-lawnounUS /ˈbrʌðərɪnlɔː/
a brother by marriage
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
chewverbUS /tʃuː/
chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
corksnounUS /kɔːrks/
plural of “cork” — outer bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
cuffedverbUS /kʌft/
past form of “cuff” — hit with the hand
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
the act of consuming food
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
divisible by two
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
at any time
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
filthnounUS /fɪlθ/
any substance considered disgustingly foul or unpleasant
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
incessantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsesəntli/
with unflagging resolve
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/
plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
roused to anger
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
nudgedverbUS /nʌdʒd/
past form of “nudge” — to push against gently
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
(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 And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
precisely, exactly
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
smackingnounUS /ˈsmækɪŋ/
the act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand
From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
spectatorsnounUS /ˈspekteɪtərz/
plural of “spectator” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
stampedverbUS /stæmpt/
past form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
utteringverbUS /ˈʌtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “utter” — articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
wardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
