used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
adeptadjectiveUS /əˈdept/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
BOILverbUS /bɔɪl/
come to the boiling point and change from a liquid to vapor
From this reading THE KETTLE CONTINUES TO BOIL.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
BradynounUS /ˈbreɪdi/
United States pioneer photographer famous for his portraits; was the official Union photographer for the American Civil War (1823-1896)
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
Carl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
CONTINUESverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːz/
third-person singular of “continue” — continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading THE KETTLE CONTINUES TO BOIL.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
characterized by great determination
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
fistsnounUS /fɪsts/
plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
KETTLEnounUS /ˈketəl/
a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
From this reading THE KETTLE CONTINUES TO BOIL.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
the force of workers available
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
musclenounUS /ˈmʌsəl/
one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
by chance
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
a full supply
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
get by special effort
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
self-defensenounUS /ˌselfdɪˈfens/
the act of defending yourself
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
skilledadjectiveUS /skɪld/
having or showing or requiring special skill
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE KETTLE CONTINUES TO BOIL.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE KETTLE CONTINUES TO BOIL.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two men had plenty of muscle, and Brady was desperately determined to secure the roll of papers.
the act of using
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading Neither of the lads, however, had been looking for violence, and the sudden attack of Brady and the other man had taken them by surprise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Matt, perhaps, was a shade more adept in the use of his fists.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both Matt and Carl were well skilled in the art of self-defense.
