used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
ambuscaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never had an assassin been better ambuscaded.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
assassinnounUS /əˈsæsən/
a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed
From this reading Never had an assassin been better ambuscaded.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
beadnounUS /biːd/
a small ball with a hole through the middle
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Never had an assassin been better ambuscaded.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
(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 Never had an assassin been better ambuscaded.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
Coronado
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
errornounUS /ˈerər/
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
exasperatingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading It was exasperating.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
fixverbUS /fɪks/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
set up or found
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
KellynounUS /ˈkeli/
United States circus clown (1898-1979)
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
levelledverbUS /ˈlevəld/
inflected form of “level” — aim at
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
Lieutenant'snounUS /luːˈtenənts/
possessive form of “lieutenant” — a commissioned military officer
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never had an assassin been better ambuscaded.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
phrasedverbUS /freɪzd/
past form of “phrase” — put into words or an expression
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
precisely, exactly
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
Shubert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
not in physical motion
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
TexasnounUS /ˈteksəs/
the second largest state; located in southwestern United States on the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
Thurstane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He levelled at Thurstane, and then it did not seem to be Thurstane; he had a dead sure sight at Kelly, and then perceived that that was an error; he drew a bead on Shubert, and still he hesitated.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
communicated in words
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He could distinguish the Lieutenant's voice, but he could not fix upon the figure which uttered it.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading For the second time within a week, Texas Smith found himself upon the brink of opportunity, without being able (as he had phrased it to Coronado) to do what was right.
