used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
the state of being absent
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
for the reason that
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
(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 was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
terminate
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading It was one of the finest races that I never saw."
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
indicativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪkətɪv/
relating to the mood of verbs that is used simple in declarative statements
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was one of the finest races that I never saw."
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
and nothing more
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It was one of the finest races that I never saw."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was one of the finest races that I never saw."
and nothing more
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
Pee-wee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
QUIETadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
any competition
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
racesnounUS /ˈreɪsəz/
plural of “race” — any competition
From this reading It was one of the finest races that I never saw."
precisely, exactly
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
cut with a saw
From this reading It was one of the finest races that I never saw."
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
sputteredverbUS /ˈspʌtərd/
past form of “sputter” — make an explosive sound
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was one of the finest races that I never saw."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
TownsendnounUS /ˈtaʊnzənd/
United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)
From this reading ABSENCE MAKES THE ISLAND QUIET "It's all right," Townsend sputtered as he crawled ashore.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was just thinking of something sad; I feel better now.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
in the company of; together with
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
witheringadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərɪŋ/
wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "It would have been a good race," said Pee-wee with a frown indicative of withering scorn, "only they had to go and break it up.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _Just because we moved_--do you call that an argument?
