used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
anatomynounUS /əˈnætəmi/
the branch of morphology that deals with the structure of animals
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
brimnounUS /brɪm/
the top edge of a vessel or other container
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading The latter epithet I doubted.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
epithetnounUS /ˈepəθet/
a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
From this reading The latter epithet I doubted.
exnounUS /eks/
a man who was formerly a certain woman's husband
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
frayedadjectiveUS /freɪd/
worn away or tattered along the edges
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
gardenernounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənər/
someone who takes care of a garden
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The latter epithet I doubted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
infinitivenounUS /ˌɪnˈfɪnɪtɪv/
the uninflected form of the verb
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
intricaciesnounUS /ˈɪntrəkəsiz/
plural of “intricacy” — marked by elaborately complex detail
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
journalismnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪzəm/
newspapers and magazines collectively
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter epithet I doubted.
lecturingnounUS /ˈlektʃərɪŋ/
teaching by giving a discourse on some subject (typically to a class)
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
moodynounUS /ˈmuːdi/
United States tennis player who dominated women's tennis in the 1920s and 1930s (1905-1998)
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
mothbeaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
Oliv
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
portionsnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
slingingnounUS /ˈslɪŋɪŋ/
throwing with a wide motion (as if with a sling)
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
Snyder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
splittingadjectiveUS /ˈsplɪtɪŋ/
resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The latter epithet I doubted.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
underwearnounUS /ˈʌndərwer/
undergarment worn next to the skin and under the outer garments
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
visualizeverbUS /ˈvɪʒwəlaɪz/
imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Oliv Snyder was a gardener, obviously, and--so he said--an ex journalism teacher.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
a Caucasian
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a short, moody little creature with white hair which curled at the ends.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore a cap with a frayed, mothbeaten brim, and his elbows and knees, and various other portions of his anatomy and underwear, were visible through the holes in his clothing.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I never heard him saying "you was" or "I seen," and David never caught him splitting an infinitive, but somehow I couldn't visualize him lecturing to an absorbed audience on the intricacies of slinging the English language around.
