used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
react verbally
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But sharpen the scissors first, please."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
CAPTUREverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
DalenounUS /deɪl/
an open river valley (in a hilly area)
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "But sharpen the scissors first, please."
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
hold firmly
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "But sharpen the scissors first, please."
Poole's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
cut with a saw
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
scissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading "But sharpen the scissors first, please."
sharpenverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpən/
make sharp or sharper
From this reading "But sharpen the scissors first, please."
shearsnounUS /ʃiːrz/
large scissors with strong blades
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
confined on all sides
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading An instant later the wild man was jerked over backwards and the dangerous shears were snatched from his grasp.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He commenced to struggle, but the whole crowd surrounded him, and before he could realize the situation his hands were made fast.
Wilbur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I will," was Wilbur Poole's answer, and he opened up the shears and commenced to stroke them back and forth on a rock near by.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD MAN "Now then, you may go to work," said our hero, as he saw Mr. Dale come up close behind the wild man.
