used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
how long something has existed
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
breedverbUS /briːd/
call forth
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
rid of obstructions
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
countrymennounUS /ˈkʌntrimɪn/
plural of “countryman” — a man from your own country
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
crisplyadverbUS /ˈkrɪspli/
in a well delineated manner
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
the organ of sight
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
filbert-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
finger-tips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading The real thing is getting scarce now.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
introducingverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The real thing is getting scarce now.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
ninetyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnti/
being ten more than eighty
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The real thing is getting scarce now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
a light shade of red
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading The real thing is getting scarce now.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
cut with a saw
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
only a very short time before
From this reading The real thing is getting scarce now.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading We did not doubt him, for his blue eye was clear, he moved easily, and his pink finger-tips and filbert-shaped nails showed breed.
smugglingnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlɪŋ/
secretly importing prohibited goods or goods on which duty is due
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
square-set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
a special situation
From this reading The real thing is getting scarce now.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
virtuesnounUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/
plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
From this reading Our square-set friend owned up to smuggling as one of the virtues of his countrymen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
which person or people
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One evening he brought an old acquaintance with him, introducing him crisply as "Uncle Bill."
wrassel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We saw a good deal of Uncle Bill afterwards, who was ninety next birthday, and ready and willing to "fight, wrassel, or run" with any man of his age in this country or the next.
