used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
anklenounUS /ˈæŋkəl/
a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
assailantnounUS /əˈseɪlənt/
someone who attacks
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
bandagedadjectiveUS /ˈbændədʒd/
covered or wrapped with a bandage
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
a boy or man
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
futilitynounUS /fjuːˈtɪləti/
uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
handicappedadjectiveUS /ˈhændikæpt/
having restricted mental or physical functioning as a consequence of injury or illness
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
and nothing more
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
pursuingadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːɪŋ/
following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
streamedverbUS /striːmd/
past form of “stream” — to extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Just between the shoulders was a clean cut about twelve or fourteen inches long, evidently made by an extremely sharp instrument.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading He walked slowly back into the light that streamed out through one of the windows, and slipped off his coat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
would-beadjective
unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition
From this reading Like a flash Dick was after him, but as he reached the edge of the veranda, he realized the futility of pursuing the would-be assailant.
YalenounUS /jeɪl/
a university in Connecticut
From this reading The fellow, whoever he was, evidently knew the ground thoroughly, and, handicapped as the Yale man was with his bandaged ankle, it would be a waste of time to try and catch him.
