used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
for the reason that
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Two years in a sardine can.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading They wanted facts, not gibberish.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
gibberishnounUS /ˈɡɪbərɪʃ/
unintelligible talking
From this reading They wanted facts, not gibberish.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
InterstellaradjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈstelər/
between or among stars
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
Nilly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
reachesnounUS /ˈriːtʃəz/
plural of “reach” — the limits within which something can be effective
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
sardinenounUS /sɑːrˈdiːn/
small fatty fish usually canned
From this reading Two years in a sardine can.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
transport commercially
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
in or at that place or location
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
precisely as stated
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Interstellar was new and they wanted him on the ship because he was a trained observer.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _Every town has crime--but especially a town that is traveling from star to star!_ _Sure I'm a Nilly, and I've died seven times, always in the blackness of the outer reaches, and I'm not alone, although there aren't very many of us, never were._ It made sense.
a late time of life
From this reading But to ask a man to give up two years of his life--well, that was asking a lot.
