used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “But,” said a new voice, “I don’t.”
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “It’s me,” said the camel’s back.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But,” said a new voice, “I don’t.”
camel'snounUS /ˈkæməlz/
possessive form of “camel” — cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
From this reading “It’s me,” said the camel’s back.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
clothing in general
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
damplyadverb
in a damp manner
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
defiantlyadverbUS /dɪˈfaɪəntli/
in a rebellious manner
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But,” said a new voice, “I don’t.”
make void or empty of contents
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “For Heaven’s sake, what was that?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
Heaven'snounUS /ˈhevənz/
possessive form of “heaven” — any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading “For Heaven’s sake, what was that?”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But,” said a new voice, “I don’t.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s me,” said the camel’s back.
laxadjectiveUS /læks/
lacking in rigor or strictness
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “It’s me,” said the camel’s back.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading “But,” said a new voice, “I don’t.”
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
PerrynounUS /ˈperi/
United States philosopher (1876-1957)
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “But,” said a new voice, “I don’t.”
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading “For Heaven’s sake, what was that?”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “For Heaven’s sake, what was that?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It’s me,” said the camel’s back.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perry and Betty started, and she put her hand to her heart.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “But,” said a new voice, “I don’t.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “For Heaven’s sake, what was that?”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “For Heaven’s sake, what was that?”
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading In a minute Perry had whipped off the camel’s skin, and a lax, limp object, his clothes hanging on him damply, his hand clenched tightly on an almost empty bottle, stood defiantly before them.
