used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
AlleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
anklesnounUS /ˈæŋkəlz/
plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
apparatusnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəs/
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
BarrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
cansnounUS /kænz/
plural of “can” — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
clamorousadjective
conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
confoundingadjectiveUS /kənˈfaʊndɪŋ/
that confounds or contradicts or confuses
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
divertingadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrtɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
enragingverbUS /enˈreɪdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “enrage” — put into a rage; make violently angry
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
fastnesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
fishing-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
FordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
set up or found
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
functionnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃən/
(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
Gilson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
involvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvd/
connected by participation or association or use
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
JOE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
KEEKIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
labyrinthnounUS /ˈlæbərɪnθ/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
passersby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
pedestriansnounUS /pəˈdestriənz/
plural of “pedestrian” — a person who travels by foot
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
pullingnounUS /ˈpʊlɪŋ/
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
radiatorsnounUS /ˈreɪdieɪtərz/
plural of “radiator” — any object that radiates energy
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
repairnounUS /rɪˈper/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
sentinelnounUS /ˈsentənəl/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
do one's shopping
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
sidewalknounUS /ˈsaɪdwɔːk/
walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
strandnounUS /strænd/
a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
surprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
tireverbUS /ˈtaɪər/
lose interest or become bored with something or somebody
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
hard to endure
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
untangledadjective
not tangled
From this reading The involved mass was really not a fishing-line but, in its untangled state, an apparatus for confounding and enraging pedestrians.
untanglingnounUS /ənˈtæŋlɪŋ/
the act of releasing from a snarled or tangled condition
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
varyverbUS /ˈveri/
become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading Stretched across the sidewalk between two tin cans its function was to catch in the feet of passersby, thus pulling the clamorous cans about the ankles of the victim.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was trying to follow a selected strand through the various fastnesses of the labyrinth.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Keekie Joe had always found this game diverting and he was wont to vary its surprises by filling the cans with muddy water.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading THE DREAM OF KEEKIE JOE On that night, in the back yard of Billy Gilson's tire repair shop, Keekie Joe, the sentinel of Barrel Alley, sat upon a pile of old Ford radiators, untangling a complicated mass of fishing-line.
