used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MORNING CALL OF MONKEYS.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
aimlessadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmləs/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Then a mighty din arose.
assailantnounUS /əˈseɪlənt/
someone who attacks
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Else would the result have been worse for Jim.
blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/
deprived of sight
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
the two together, not just one
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A MORNING CALL OF MONKEYS.
Cap'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
seemingly without interruption
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
crutchesnounUS /ˈkrʌtʃɪz/
plural of “crutch” — a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
dinnounUS /dɪn/
a loud harsh or strident noise
From this reading Then a mighty din arose.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
Else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Else would the result have been worse for Jim.
fightersnounUS /ˈfaɪtərz/
plural of “fighter” — someone who fights (or is fighting)
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
half-drunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Else would the result have been worse for Jim.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
a small worthless amount
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Else would the result have been worse for Jim.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
liquornounUS /ˈlɪkər/
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Then a mighty din arose.
MONKEYSnounUS /ˈmʌŋkiz/
plural of “monkey” — any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading A MORNING CALL OF MONKEYS.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A MORNING CALL OF MONKEYS.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MORNING CALL OF MONKEYS.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
recklesslyadverbUS /ˈrekləsli/
in a reckless manner
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Else would the result have been worse for Jim.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
subdueverbUS /səbˈduː/
put down by force or intimidation
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
teamsternounUS /ˈtiːmstər/
the driver of a team of horses doing hauling
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then a mighty din arose.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading The startled Cap'n Jack tossed his crutches out of the wagon and recklessly tumbled after them; then picked them up to lay about him in an aimless effort to subdue the fighters.
whipverbUS /wɪp/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
wiselyadverbUS /ˈwaɪzli/
in a wise manner
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading Else would the result have been worse for Jim.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Else would the result have been worse for Jim.
intense anger (usually on an epic scale)
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
yellnounUS /jel/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading With an answering yell the half-drunken teamster flew at his assailant, using his whip continually, but not wisely, for both wrath and liquor blinded him.
