used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
adhesivenessnoun
the property of sticking together (as of glue and wood) or the joining of surfaces of different composition
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
affrighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
anew
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
cock-sparrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
coveringsnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋz/
plural of “covering” — a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
craniums
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
criniferous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
fretfuladjectiveUS /ˈfretfəl/
nervous and unable to relax
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
cause to move by striking
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
injuriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʊriəs/
harmful to living things
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
free from evil or guilt
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
levelledverbUS /ˈlevəld/
inflected form of “level” — aim at
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
life-assurance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
mortarnounUS /ˈmɔːrtər/
a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
used to form the superlative
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
mur-der
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
murderousadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərəs/
characteristic of or capable of or having a tendency toward killing another human being
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
easily agitated
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
not any; not one
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
porcupinenounUS /ˈpɔːrkjəpaɪn/
relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
established beyond doubt
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
quills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
precisely, exactly
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
roaredverbUS /rɔːrd/
past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
self-congratulatory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
sportsmannounUS /ˈspɔːrtsmən/
someone who engages in sports
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
be standing; be upright
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
stentorianadjective
(used of the voice or sound) deep and resonant
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
stilenounUS /staɪl/
an upright that is a member in a door or window frame
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
Sugarlips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
in the direction of
From this reading In an instant the sportsman let fall his gun, and Sugarlips ran affrighted towards the stile.
tubenounUS /tuːb/
conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
communicated in words
From this reading And no sooner had he uttered this self-congratulatory assurance (alas! not life-assurance!) than a report (most injurious to the innocent cock-sparrow) was heard in the neighbourhood!
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
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 Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "That's right; out of the way, Sugarlips; I am sure I shall hit him this time."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Murder!--mur-der!" roared a stentorian voice, which made the criniferous coverings of their craniums stand on end "Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Again the "murderous tube" was levelled; Sugarlips backed against an adjoining wall, with a nervous adhesiveness that evidently proved him less fearful of a little mortar than a great gun!
