used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
(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 “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But they proved to be that as they thundered down hill.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But they proved to be that as they thundered down hill.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they proved to be that as they thundered down hill.
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But they proved to be that as they thundered down hill.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading But they proved to be that as they thundered down hill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the act of tarrying
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
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 The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
established beyond doubt
From this reading But they proved to be that as they thundered down hill.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
REDHEADnounUS /ˈredhed/
someone who has red hair
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
ruefullyadverbUS /ˈruːfəli/
in a rueful manner
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
scalesnounUS /skeɪlz/
plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/
wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
steersnounUS /stɪrz/
plural of “steer” — an indication of potential opportunity
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
Tavia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
thunderedverbUS /ˈθʌndərd/
past form of “thunder” — move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading But they proved to be that as they thundered down hill.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
tippingverbUS /ˈtɪpɪŋ/
inflected form of “tip” — cause to tilt
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
tonnounUS /tʌn/
a United States unit of weight equivalent to 2000 pounds
From this reading Certainly a pair of steers tipping the scales at a ton and a half each did not look like racing machines.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The long, lingering dog that had started the trouble was left far behind.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Had one of them fallen on the way we shrink from thinking of the result--to the two girls in the cart.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “THAT REDHEAD” “To look at those beasts,” Tavia said, ruefully, and some time after the event, “you wouldn’t think they could run at all.”
