adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(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’ve something better for you to do.”
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
coatnounUS /koʊt/
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
congratulationsnounUS /kənˌɡrætʃəˈleɪʃənz/
an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading “Never mind that,” he interrupted my congratulations.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I’ve something better for you to do.”
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
finishedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪnɪʃt/
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I’ve something better for you to do.”
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Never mind that,” he interrupted my congratulations.
HereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve something better for you to do.”
immediatelyadverbUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːətli/
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/
discontinued temporarily
From this reading “Never mind that,” he interrupted my congratulations.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
MerelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading “Never mind that,” he interrupted my congratulations.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Never mind that,” he interrupted my congratulations.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
NeveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Never mind that,” he interrupted my congratulations.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
oilyadjectiveUS /ˈɔɪli/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
potnounUS /pɑːt/
metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
precautionaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈkɔːʃəneri/
taken in advance to protect against possible danger or failure
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/
with speed
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading “Merely preliminary and precautionary,” he explained when I had finished; “but now for the real stuff.”
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
shellac-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
skinnounUS /skɪn/
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “I’ve something better for you to do.”
spreadverbUS /spred/
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
stuffnounUS /stʌf/
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Never mind that,” he interrupted my congratulations.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
thrustverbUS /θrʌst/
push forcefully
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I’ve something better for you to do.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was an oily, shellac-like stuff, which spread quickly and easily over the skin and dried immediately.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he talked he began to strip, and when he stood naked before me he thrust a pot and brush into my hand and said, “Here, give me a coat of this.”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I’ve something better for you to do.”
