used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Here's a scatter-gun."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
anew
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Any cartridges, Skinner?"
any thing at all
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
BarstownounUS /ˈbɑːrstoʊ/
a town in southeastern California
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
breechnounUS /briːtʃ/
opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
cartridgesnounUS /ˈkɑːrtrədʒəz/
plural of “cartridge” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
From this reading "Any cartridges, Skinner?"
CHAYNE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
Here's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Here's a scatter-gun."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
cause to move by striking
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
Hullonoun
an expression of greeting
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
a room where books are kept
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
held up in the air
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/
the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
RETURNSnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
scatter-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Here's a scatter-gun."
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
SkinnernounUS /ˈskɪnər/
United States actor (1858-1942)
From this reading "Any cartridges, Skinner?"
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
tulipnounUS /ˈtuːləp/
any of numerous perennial bulbous herbs having linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and usually a single showy flower
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading CHAYNE RETURNS "Hullo," cried Captain Barstow, as he wandered round the library after luncheon.
in or at the place that
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He took the gun from a corner where it stood against the wall, opened the breech, shut it again, and turning to the open window lifted the stock to his shoulder.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "I wonder whether I could hit anything nowadays," he said, taking careful aim at a tulip in the garden.
