used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
anklenounUS /ˈæŋkəl/
a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
brandynounUS /ˈbrændi/
distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
Carl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
crutchesnounUS /ˈkrʌtʃɪz/
plural of “crutch” — a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
drenchingnounUS /ˈdrentʃɪŋ/
the act of making something completely wet
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
be the source of pain
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
illsnounUS /ɪlz/
plural of “ill” — an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
inwardadjectiveUS /ˈɪnwərd/
relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/
of less size or importance
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
engage in
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
not any; not one
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
staidadjectiveUS /steɪd/
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
swallowedverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊd/
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
tenaciousadjectiveUS /təˈneɪʃəs/
good at remembering
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
the act of using
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The fall, the air of the swamp, and the inward drenching of brandy had left Carl looking much as usual; the tenacious disease that held him swallowed the lesser ills.
migratory
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But for the time, at least, his wandering footsteps were staid.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "I suppose there is no use in my asking, Carl, _why_ you went in there?" said Deal, after a while.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "One will do; my right ankle is not much hurt, I think."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I must make you a pair of crutches," said Deal.
