used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
on or to one side
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “He’s _got_ to be guilty!”
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
busybodies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
Crowley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
defiantlyadverbUS /dɪˈfaɪəntli/
in a rebellious manner
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
let fall to the ground
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
elbowedverbUS /ˈelboʊd/
past form of “elbow” — push one's way with the elbows
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
flaying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
front-page
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
glaredverbUS /ɡlerd/
past form of “glare” — look at with a fixed gaze
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “He’s _got_ to be guilty!”
gruntingverbUS /ˈɡrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading “He’s _got_ to be guilty!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He’s _got_ to be guilty!”
to a considerable degree
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
patrolmennounUS /pətroʊlˈmen/
plural of “patrolman” — a policeman who patrols a given region
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
red-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
reportersnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtərz/
plural of “reporter” — a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
slammedverbUS /slæmd/
inflected form of “slam” — close violently
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
stampedverbUS /stæmpt/
past form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading The customary pile of morning papers, flaying him in stinging front-page columns, covered his desk.
possessing sweep
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He glanced them over, grunting; then swept them to the floor and let himself drop heavily into his chair.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
look attentively
From this reading The Fast Watch Police Captain Crowley—red-headed, alert, brave—stamped into the North Side police station an hour later than usual and in a very bad temper.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He glared defiantly at the row of patrolmen, reporters, and busybodies, elbowed aside his desk sergeant without a word, and slammed into his private office.
