used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
(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 Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
artist'snounUS /ˈɑːrtəsts/
possessive form of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
buccaneernounUS /ˌbʌkəˈniːr/
someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
bulger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
cavaliernounUS /ˌkævəˈlɪr/
a gallant or courtly gentleman
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
a period of 100 years
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
cinnamonnounUS /ˈsɪnəmən/
aromatic bark used as a spice
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
Earthmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
at any time
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
exploitsnounUS /ˈeksplɔɪts/
plural of “exploit” — a notable achievement
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
exposingverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “expose” — expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
GarynounUS /ˈɡeri/
a city in northwest Indiana on Lake Michigan; steel production
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "Lark O'Day!" gasped Nora Powell.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
handsomest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
helmetnounUS /ˈhelmət/
armor plate that protects the head
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
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 She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
a narrow way or road
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
LarknounUS /lɑːrk/
North American songbirds having a yellow breast
From this reading "Lark O'Day!" gasped Nora Powell.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
laughingest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
legendaryadjectiveUS /ˈledʒənderi/
so celebrated as to having taken on the nature of a legend
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
MadnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
mopverbUS /mɑːp/
to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
Nora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lark O'Day!" gasped Nora Powell.
O'Day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lark O'Day!" gasped Nora Powell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
PowellnounUS /ˈpaʊəl/
United States general who was the first African American to serve as chief of staff; later served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush (born 1937)
From this reading "Lark O'Day!" gasped Nora Powell.
privateernoun
an officer or crew member of a privateer
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
quartzitenoun
hard metamorphic rock consisting essentially of interlocking quartz crystals
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
unusual or striking
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
romanticadjectiveUS /roʊˈmæntɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
SeventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the sixteenth in position
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
sparknounUS /spɑːrk/
a momentary flash of light
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
systemsnounUS /ˈsɪstəmz/
plural of “system” — instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
toppedadjectiveUS /tɑːpt/
having a top of a specified character
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
unrulyadjectiveUS /ənˈruːli/
noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A buccaneer the man might be, but he could equally well have been an artist's model for a gay and laughing cavalier of the Seventeenth Century.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
whitestadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtɪst/
superlative of “white” — being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light
From this reading Moon of Madness And he pushed back the quartzite helmet of his bulger, exposing the whitest smile, the handsomest face, the laughingest pair of eyes, all topped by the most unruly mop of cinnamon hair, Gary Lane had ever seen.
belonging to which person
From this reading Lark O'Day was a privateer whose exploits were so remarkable as to be almost legendary.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She knew the name, as did all Earthmen and women with a spark of romantic imagination in their systems.
