Chapter IV

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

-ing form of “adopt” — choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

with anger

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

a social or business visitor

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Well, what can I do for you?"

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

a person who seeks the advice of a lawyer

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

without deviation

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Well, what can I do for you?"

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I'll tell you," said Rankin, "since that's what I come fer.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I'll tell you," said Rankin, "since that's what I come fer.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

staying power

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

leader in the women's suffrage movement in Montana; the first woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives (1880-1973)

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

from a time in the past until now

From this reading "I'll tell you," said Rankin, "since that's what I come fer.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading Sprague dropped his feet to the floor, swung his chair half around on one of its legs, and as it came down he brought it into a position directly facing Rankin.

express in words

From this reading "I'll tell you," said Rankin, "since that's what I come fer.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

(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 "Well, what can I do for you?"

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Well, what can I do for you?"

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He looked at his caller almost angrily for an instant, but adopting the more peaceful tone in which he would have addressed a new client, he said:

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Well, what can I do for you?"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Yes, that's it," Rankin went on, "and you're the man I come to see."