used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
ain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
approvalnounUS /əˈpruːvəl/
the formal act of approving
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
of short duration or distance
From this reading The wind came in furious gusts, with brief intervals of calm.
make calm or still
From this reading The wind came in furious gusts, with brief intervals of calm.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The wind came in furious gusts, with brief intervals of calm.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Red closed the door on the scene, and turned to face the light.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Red closed the door on the scene, and turned to face the light.
easieradjectiveUS /ˈiːziər/
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Red closed the door on the scene, and turned to face the light.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The wind came in furious gusts, with brief intervals of calm.
gamblingnounUS /ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
gustnounUS /ɡʌst/
a strong current of air
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
gustsnounUS /ɡʌsts/
plural of “gust” — a strong current of air
From this reading The wind came in furious gusts, with brief intervals of calm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
hairyadjectiveUS /ˈheri/
having or covered with hair
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading The wind came in furious gusts, with brief intervals of calm.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Red closed the door on the scene, and turned to face the light.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
the force of workers available
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Red closed the door on the scene, and turned to face the light.
relighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Red closed the door on the scene, and turned to face the light.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
having a supporting base
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Red closed the door on the scene, and turned to face the light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His friends were already gathering together the cards to lose in the excitement of gambling consciousness of what was about to be done.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
which person or people
From this reading The man who had relighted the candle, and who crouched to shield it with a hairy hand from the gust, nodded approval.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind came in furious gusts, with brief intervals of calm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "What we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about, looking on."
