used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
at or in the front
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
bandsnounUS /bændz/
plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
without stop or interruption
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
foot-brake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
yet to be or coming
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
hand-brake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
hubsnounUS /hʌbz/
plural of “hub” — the central part of a car wheel (or fan or propeller etc) through which the shaft or axle passes
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Keep over!
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Keep over!
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
squeakingadjectiveUS /ˈskwiːkɪŋ/
having or making a high-pitched sound such as that made by a mouse or a rusty hinge
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
touringverbUS /ˈtʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “tour” — make a tour of a certain place
From this reading But the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
communicated in words
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dave leaned forward, to jam on the hand-brake, but his uncle was ahead of him in the action.
(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 the hill was a steep one and the big touring car, well laden, continued to move downward, although but slowly.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading The foot-brake was already down, and from the rear wheels came a shrill squeaking, as the bands gripped the hubs.
the words that are spoken
From this reading A TALK OF THE FUTURE The girls screamed and the boys uttered various cries and words of advice.
