used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He swore beneath his breath.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He swore beneath his breath.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
diplomacynounUS /dɪˈploʊməsi/
negotiation between nations
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
elaborateadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbrət/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
elapseverbUS /ɪˈlæps/
pass by
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
at any time
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
footingnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
fussverbUS /fʌs/
worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
obtain
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
engage in
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
nothin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
and nothing more
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
realizingverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “realize” — be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
reëstablish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
surlyadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrli/
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
sworeverbUS /swɔːr/
inflected form of “swear” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading He swore beneath his breath.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "I didn't mean nothin'," he said in a surly voice.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He paused, realizing that he had made a false move which bade fair to lose him his prey entirely.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Only by elaborate diplomacy would he ever be able to reëstablish a footing of friendship; weeks must elapse now before he would gain the advantage of another kiss from her lips.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I don't see as you got any call to make such a fuss."
