used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
asteroidsnounUS /ˈæstərɔɪdz/
plural of “asteroid” — any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
bratsnounUS /bræts/
plural of “brat” — a very troublesome child
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
BurtnounUS /bɜːrt/
English psychologist whose studies of twins were later said to have used fabricated data (1883-1971)
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
a social unit living together
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
fore-rockets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
goadverbUS /ɡoʊd/
give heart or courage to
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
Johnny'snounUS /ˈdʒɑːniz/
possessive form of “johnny” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
and nothing more
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
picnicnounUS /ˈpɪknɪk/
a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
routinenounUS /ruːˈtiːn/
an unvarying or habitual method or procedure
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
spoiledadjectiveUS /spɔɪld/
having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or oversolicitous attention
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
studverbUS /stʌd/
scatter or intersperse like dots or studs
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only, as it turned out, this particular picnic wasn't quite regular routine!
week-end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burt was tired of taking his family out to the asteroids for a picnic every week-end.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
at the time that
From this reading When he wanted something, Johnny's voice took on that wailing quality.
a Caucasian
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
in the company of; together with
From this reading But with a wife and two spoiled brats to goad him into the regular routine, what could a man do?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Burt reached out for the stud that would fire the fore-rockets, but a small white hand already rested on the button.
