adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
addingverbUS /ˈædɪŋ/
-ing form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
angernounUS /ˈæŋɡər/
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
bringingnounUS /ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
brutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
CHOICEnounUS /tʃɔɪs/
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
coververbUS /ˈkʌvər/
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
dognounUS /dɔːɡ/
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 man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
effectuallyadverb
in an effectual manner
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
encouragementnounUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒmənt/
the expression of approval and support
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
expressedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsprest/
communicated in words
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
fruitnounUS /fruːt/
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
GIVENadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
gunnounUS /ɡʌn/
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
ill-nurtured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
impetuousadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpetʃwəs/
characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
JuniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
lanenounUS /leɪn/
a narrow way or road
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
matchverbUS /mætʃ/
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
raidverbUS /reɪd/
search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
retreatnounUS /riˈtriːt/
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
savageadjectiveUS /ˈsævədʒ/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
unprovokedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈvoʊkt/
occurring without motivation or provocation
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
worseadjectiveUS /wɜːrs/
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
