used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
at or in the front
From this reading "Come ahead, old mutton-top," he laughed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
BrentnounUS /brent/
small dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come ahead, old mutton-top," he laughed.
countrysidenounUS /ˈkʌntrisaɪd/
rural regions
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
edgingnounUS /ˈedʒɪŋ/
border consisting of anything placed on the edge to finish something (such as a fringe on clothing or on a rug)
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
heretoforeadverbUS /ˌhɪrtəˈfɔːr/
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading "Come ahead, old mutton-top," he laughed.
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 TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
in motion
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
a form of address for a man
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
mutton-top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Come ahead, old mutton-top," he laughed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Come ahead, old mutton-top," he laughed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
paddlesnounUS /ˈpædəlz/
plural of “paddle” — small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
piston-rods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
participate in games or sport
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
PotterverbUS /ˈpɑːtər/
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
sinuousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪnwəs/
curved or curving in and out
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
express in speech
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
move hurridly
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
springsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
temperedadjectiveUS /ˈtempərd/
made hard or flexible or resilient especially by heat treatment
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
hard to endure
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was on his toes, and his sinuous movements seemed to speak of highly tempered springs and oil.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was indeed a different Brent from any which the countryside had heretofore seen.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading His arms were working like slowly moving piston-rods of an engine, that is capable of great speed.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading TRYING TO PLAY FAIR "Put up your paddles now, Mr. Potter," Brent said, edging to the left.
