used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
Blackwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
bracesnounUS /ˈbreɪsəz/
an appliance that corrects dental irregularities
From this reading From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
lacking funds
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
cementnounUS /səˈment/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
a person who is in charge
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
convictnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkt/
a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
the act of consuming food
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
of great significance or value
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
jailernounUS /ˈdʒeɪlər/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
legendnounUS /ˈledʒənd/
a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
nailverbUS /neɪl/
attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
priedverbUS /praɪd/
inflected form of “pry” — to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
reportingnounUS /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/
the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading From the little table in his room he pried loose one of the corner braces.
Scanlan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
secretedverbUS /səˈkriːtɪd/
past form of “secrete” — generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading By reason of a bit of glass secreted in his bed something quite as important happened to the convict.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
unimportantadjectiveUS /ənɪmˈpɔːrtənt/
not important
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a legend to the effect that for want of a nail a battle was lost.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Blackwell, while eating, knocked a glass from the table and broke it on the cement floor of his cell.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading A CLEAN UP A slight accident occurred at the jail, one so unimportant that Scanlan the jailer did not think it worth reporting to his chief.
