how long something has existed
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
bangverbUS /bæŋ/
strike violently
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
barnsnounUS /bɑːrnz/
plural of “barn” — an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
Boggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
caninesnounUS /ˈkeɪnaɪnz/
plural of “canine” — one of the four pointed conical teeth (two in each jaw) located between the incisors and the premolars
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
made afraid
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
assemble or get together
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
hamsnounUS /hæmz/
plural of “ham” — meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
howledverbUS /haʊld/
past form of “howl” — emit long loud cries
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
and nothing more
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
the force of workers available
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
quailverbUS /kweɪl/
draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
cut with a saw
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
not in physical motion
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
targetnounUS /ˈtɑːrɡət/
a reference point to shoot at
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
triggerverbUS /ˈtrɪɡər/
put in motion or move to act
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
twould
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
visionarynounUS /ˈvɪʒəneri/
a person given to fanciful speculations and enthusiasms with little regard for what is actually possible
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
at the time that
From this reading This plan might do, if lead he threw At barns or target rings; But frightened quail, when turning tail, Are visionary things.
Whene'er
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So when they saw Boggs shut both eyes Whene’er the piece he fired, They dropped upon their hams and howled, And from the hunt retired.
in or at the place that
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading ’Tis said those knowing canines knew While men were taking aim, Whether or not ’twould be their lot To gather in some game.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Boggs had one fault, from childhood brought, More marked with age it grew; He never failed to shut both eyes Whilst he the trigger drew.
woenounUS /woʊ/
misery resulting from affliction
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And let him sight, quick as he might, Space still would grow between, And bang! would go the shower of woe Just where the bird—had been.
