used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a good-enough moon.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
(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 A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
batnounUS /bæt/
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
Blacknight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
cannedadjectiveUS /kænd/
recorded for broadcast
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
chickennounUS /ˈtʃɪkən/
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
chopsnounUS /tʃɑːps/
plural of “chop” — the irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide)
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
curedadjectiveUS /kjʊrd/
freed from illness or injury
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
demolishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɑːlɪʃt/
torn down and broken up
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
being one more than ten
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
set up or found
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
brought together in one place
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
good-enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good-enough moon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
hystericsnounUS /ˌhɪˈsterɪks/
an attack of hysteria
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading He and Bill Blacknight gathered dry brush and built a blazing fire against the chill of January.
English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
and nothing more
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
for more time
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading There was a good-enough moon.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
outlying areas (as of a city or town)
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
plunkedverbUS /plʌŋkt/
past form of “plunk” — make or move along with a sound as of a horse's hooves striking the ground
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
rayedverbUS /reɪd/
past form of “ray” — emit as rays
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
restaurantnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnt/
a building where people go to eat
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
sandwichnounUS /ˈsændwɪtʃ/
two (or more) slices of bread with a filling between them
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
shiververbUS /ˈʃɪvər/
tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a good-enough moon.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They made the outskirts of the city by eleven o'clock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
a just detectable amount
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a good-enough moon.
weepverbUS /wiːp/
shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
at the time that
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
wolfingverbUS /ˈwʊlfɪŋ/
-ing form of “wolf” — eat hastily
From this reading A restaurant, all but demolished, gave them canned food; Trace had to bat Johnson in the chops to keep him from wolfing down a dirty chicken sandwich he found lying on the floor, and Johnson went into a fit of wailing hysterics, but when he came out of it he was just about cured, and didn't weep or shiver any longer.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading They walked a little farther and at midnight Trace plunked them down on a wooded hill, beyond the rayed area.
