used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
CHALLENGEverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
Donald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
Fayville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
forcingverbUS /ˈfɔːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
gratinglyadverb
in a harsh and grating manner
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
growlingnounUS /ˈɡroʊlɪŋ/
a gruff or angry utterance (suggestive of the growling of an animal)
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
hev
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
Jerry'snounUS /ˈdʒeriz/
possessive form of “jerry” — offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
Judd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
MikenounUS /maɪk/
device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
the middle of the day
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
held or filled or in use
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
a course of conduct
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading "Yo' hev," was the prompt and surly reply.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Yo' hev," was the prompt and surly reply.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
squarelyadverbUS /ˈskwerli/
directly and without evasion; not roundabout
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He stopped, forcing the growling Mike behind him, as Judd stepped out from the bushes, squarely across his path.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
surlyadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrli/
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
From this reading "Yo' hev," was the prompt and surly reply.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
ter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
UNACCEPTEDadjective
not conforming to standard usage
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words, spoken in a harsh voice, fell gratingly on Donald's ears, and brought to an abrupt end the happy thoughts with which his mind was occupied.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading AN UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE "I wants ter hev speech with ye, stranger."
Yo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yo' hev," was the prompt and surly reply.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I would be glad to stop and talk with you, Judd, but I'm due in Fayville before noon, and have already stayed too long at Big Jerry's."
