used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
brutenounUS /bruːt/
a cruelly rapacious person
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
canalman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
causingnounUS /ˈkɑːzɪŋ/
the act of causing something to happen
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
convulsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
take in liquids
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
any strong feeling
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
flannelnounUS /ˈflænəl/
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
freckledadjectiveUS /ˈfrekəld/
relating to or covered with or resembling freckles
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
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 The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
ill-favoredadjective
usually used of a face
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
injuredadjectiveUS /ˈɪndʒərd/
harmed
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
staying power
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
lipnounUS /lɪp/
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
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 One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
master'snounUS /ˈmæstərz/
possessive form of “master” — an artist of consummate skill
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
mulesnounUS /mjuːlz/
plural of “mule” — hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
obliterationnounUS /əˌblɪtərˈeɪʃən/
destruction by annihilating something
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
patchedadjectiveUS /pætʃt/
mended usually clumsily by covering a hole with a patch
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
razornounUS /ˈreɪzər/
edge tool used in shaving
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
scarnounUS /skɑːr/
a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading The red flannel shirt, patched with colors of lighter shades, lay open to the shoulders, showing the dark, rough skin.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
stringyadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪŋi/
lean and sinewy
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
thickenedadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkənd/
made or having become thick
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
unintelligibleadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪnˈtelədʒəbəl/
poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
the topmost one of two
From this reading His nose, thickened by drink, threatened the short upper lip with obliteration.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The canalman was a short, ill-favored brute, with coarse red hair and freckled skin.
whipverbUS /wɪp/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
whirringnounUS /ˈwɜːrɪŋ/
sound of something in rapid motion
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One afternoon in late October four lean mules, with stringy muscles dragging over their bones, stretched long legs at the whirring of their master's whip.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
zigzagverbUS /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/
travel along a zigzag path
From this reading Straight from ear to ear, deep under his chin, was a zigzag scar made by a razor in his boyhood days, and under emotion the injured throat became convulsed at times, causing his words to be unintelligible.
