used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
buffetedadjectiveUS /bəˈfeɪd/
pounded or hit repeatedly by storms or adversities
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
capriciousadjectiveUS /kəˈprɪʃəs/
changeable
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
clothing in general
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
conciliateverb
cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
deliberatelyadverbUS /dɪˈlɪbərətli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
ENGINEERnounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
give expression to
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
footballnounUS /ˈfʊtbɔːl/
any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
hireverbUS /ˈhaɪər/
engage or hire for work
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
mulenounUS /mjuːl/
hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
servilitynounUS /ˈsɜːrvɪlətiː/
abject or cringing submissiveness
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
Tommy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
create by training and teaching
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
unreasonableadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznəbəl/
not reasonable; not showing good judgment
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
precisely as stated
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
