used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
react verbally
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
next to; at the side of
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
BRAIN-WAVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
Dare's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was ten o'clock the same day.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
footstoolnoun
a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
the act of departing
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
lamenounUS /leɪm/
someone who doesn't understand what is going on
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was ten o'clock the same day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
prickedverbUS /prɪkt/
past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
recliningnounUS /rɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It was ten o'clock the same day.
squattingnounUS /ˈskwɑːtɪŋ/
exercising by repeatedly assuming a crouching position with the knees bent; strengthens the leg muscles
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was ten o'clock the same day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was ten o'clock the same day.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading At Dare's question he pricked up his ears and waited for the captain's answer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was ten o'clock the same day.
watchdognounUS /ˈwɑːtʃdɔːɡ/
a guardian or defender against theft or illegal practices or waste
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dare was squatting on the floor beside him, and Ben, whom Martha had driven out of the kitchen, was hanging about in the background in the manner of a faithful watchdog.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The captain had carried out his threat to get up and was reclining in an easy chair with his lame leg resting on a footstool.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading BEN HAS A BRAIN-WAVE "What are you going to do about it, father?"
