used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dick was in a dangerous fix.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Dick was in a dangerous fix.
dashingadjectiveUS /ˈdæʃɪŋ/
lively and spirited
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Dick was in a dangerous fix.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
a boy or man
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading Dick was in a dangerous fix.
flourishingadjectiveUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃɪŋ/
very lively and profitable
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
grabverbUS /ɡræb/
take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
horriblyadverbUS /ˈhɔːrəbli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dick was in a dangerous fix.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
and nothing more
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
lusheradjectiveUS /ˈlʌʃər/
comparative of “lush” — produced or growing in extreme abundance
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
a particular point in time
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
a human being
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
plugverbUS /plʌɡ/
fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
with little or no delay
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
express in words
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
shabbilyadverb
so as to appear worn and threadbare or dilapidated
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
swearingnounUS /ˈswerɪŋ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
ulsternounUS /ˈʌlstər/
a historic division of Ireland located in the northeastern part of the island; six of Ulster's nine counties are in Northern Ireland
From this reading He was a tall and very thin person, shabbily dressed in an old ulster and a battered plug hat.
precisely as stated
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
visenounUS /vaɪs/
a holding device attached to a workbench; has two jaws to hold workpiece firmly in place
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dick was in a dangerous fix.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The two girls screamed, while Dick tried to grab the knife which the “lusher” kept flourishing, swearing horribly at Dick all the while.
which person or people
From this reading The fellow who had caught hold of him was very drunk and had a grip like a vise.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading How it would have ended if help had not come promptly it is impossible to say, but, as it happened, just at this critical moment a man came dashing around the corner.
