used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
confined by bonds
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
an opposing military force
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
widely known and esteemed
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
gunner-boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
Herrnung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_Nicht so schlimm!_" Von Herrnung nodded.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
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 You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
engage in
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
Nicht
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_Nicht so schlimm!_" Von Herrnung nodded.
not any; not one
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading "_Nicht so schlimm!_" Von Herrnung nodded.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
on one occasion
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
a strong line
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
Identical; not different.
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
schlimm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_Nicht so schlimm!_" Von Herrnung nodded.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "_Nicht so schlimm!_" Von Herrnung nodded.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But I think it takes more than—that kind of being clever—to make a famous man."
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
Von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_Nicht so schlimm!_" Von Herrnung nodded.
waggonnoun
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
at the time that
From this reading I did that once when I was a gunner-boy of seventeen in South Africa——" Von Herrnung stopped short.
in the company of; together with
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading "But all the same these little tricks are worth knowing.
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You might be bound with ropes to a post, or tree, or waggon by the enemy, and if he happened to have left your matches on you—and you could get one hand free—there is no knot man could tie that I could not wriggle myself out of!—you might burn the rope and get away!
