used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
CedarsnounUS /ˈsiːdərz/
plural of “cedar” — any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
definitelyadverbUS /ˈdefənətli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So they turned him over to me.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
and nothing more
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
immediately past
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So they turned him over to me.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
murderedadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərd/
killed unlawfully
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading So they turned him over to me.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
express in words
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
scaredadjectiveUS /skerd/
made afraid
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
shieldingnounUS /ˈʃiːldɪŋ/
the act of shielding from harm
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So they turned him over to me.
a person, without saying who
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
sureradjectiveUS /ˈʃʊrər/
comparative of “sure” — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So they turned him over to me.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So they turned him over to me.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading So they turned him over to me.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I thought he might be shielding somebody until he was a little surer of his ground.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He told me he was afraid of being murdered, and he wanted a good man he could call on to come out here to the Cedars if things got too hot for him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was easy to see the old man was scared, just as his niece says he was last night.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The funny part was he wouldn't say definitely what he was afraid of.
