used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A QUEER SITUATION.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
aeroplanenoun
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
expedientadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/
serving to promote your interest
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
the act of departing
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
hitching-post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
hoistverbUS /hɔɪst/
raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
MotornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
noosenounUS /nuːs/
a trap for birds or small mammals; often has a slip noose
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A QUEER SITUATION.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
a strong line
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading A QUEER SITUATION.
stagingnounUS /ˈsteɪdʒɪŋ/
the production of a drama on the stage
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
bound or secured closely
From this reading As Matt ran through the gate, he flung the noose which he had tied in the rope over a hitching-post, and then leaped across the road.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The rope which had been used to hoist the aeroplane to the staging on the pole was a long one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Motor Matt was never long about making up his mind as to what he was going to do.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the present instance an expedient flashed through his brain which might, or might not, succeed.
