used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
Barr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
terminate
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
rid of obstructions
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
detainedverbUS /dɪˈteɪnd/
past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
at any time
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
most important element
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
a particular point in time
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
not any; not one
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
OUTLAWnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔː/
someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
Pinewood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
Ryder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
SheriffnounUS /ˈʃerəf/
the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading Sheriff or no sheriff, he made a break for the door of the hotel.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had but half an hour in the clear to reach the Barr railroad station in any case.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
create by training and teaching
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
a Caucasian
From this reading White and Ruth had already got a good start of him.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading AN OUTLAW IN FACT Now at this particular moment John Ryder wished to be detained less than ever before in his life.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading As far as he knew there might not be another train to New York over the main line until night; and surely not on the branch from Pinewood until nine o'clock.
