used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What was there about that ring to create such an impression?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What was there about that ring to create such an impression?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
any thing at all
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
createverbUS /kriˈeɪt/
make or cause to be or to become
From this reading What was there about that ring to create such an impression?
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
grinningly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
HAMMERnounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
Helmuth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
HerrnounUS /her/
a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading What was there about that ring to create such an impression?
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
insolentlyadverb
in an insolent manner
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
Krausz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
something that is lost
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
engage in
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
mission-boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
Potbellynoun
slang for a paunch
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
Potbelly's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
shrillyadverb
in a shrill voice
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
STARTSnounUS /stɑːrts/
plural of “start” — the beginning of anything
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading What was there about that ring to create such an impression?
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What was there about that ring to create such an impression?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading What was there about that ring to create such an impression?
in spite of the fact that
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
transfixedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɪkst/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading The mission-boy had arrived grinningly, almost insolently, and after a look at the ring he had seemed to be transfixed by terror.
undulyadverbUS /ənˈduːli/
to an undue degree
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading HAMMER STARTS SOMETHING The American was at a loss to make out what had happened to Potbelly.
the words that are spoken
From this reading From inside the tent of Professor Helmuth he could hear, as he waited, Potbelly's voice rising shrilly, though the words were lost.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Certainly it looked harmless enough, and Herr Krausz would have observed anything unduly curious about it.
