used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
anew
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
BesetverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
Bobolink's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
BudnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
bullynounUS /ˈbʊli/
a cruel and brutal fellow
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
foesnounUS /foʊz/
plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
imitationsnounUS /ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “imitation” — the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What's the matter in there?
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
knucklesnounUS /ˈnʌkəlz/
(used in the plural) a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter in there?
used to form the superlative
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
of an obscure nature
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
and nothing more
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
a human being
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
predicamentnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
preson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
rappingverbUS /ˈræpɪŋ/
inflected form of “rap” — strike sharply
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
TednounUS /ted/
a tough youth of 1950's and 1960's wearing Edwardian style clothes
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What's the matter in there?
in or at that place or location
From this reading "What's the matter in there?
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
thrashingnounUS /ˈθræʃɪŋ/
a sound defeat
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter in there?
at the time that
From this reading And the mysterious voice that sounded exactly like his own, startled him; for, not being a friend of Bobolink's he probably never heard him give those strange imitations when making his voice appear to come from some other preson [person].
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Bud Jones was in the most terrible predicament of his whole life.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Beset by innumerable fierce foes as he believed within, there was that big bully outside, only waiting for a chance to give him a thrashing he would never forget.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Why don't you open up?["] called Ted, again rapping his knuckles on the wooden barrier.
