adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
Avery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
bellowedverbUS /ˈbeloʊd/
past form of “bellow” — shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading They had done their best and failed.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
bravadonounUS /brəˈvɑːdoʊ/
a swaggering show of courage
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
bustverbUS /bʌst/
ruin completely
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/
a person who is in charge
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
chief'snounUS /tʃiːfs/
possessive form of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading They had done their best and failed.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading They had done their best and failed.
FailurenounUS /ˈfeɪljər/
an act that fails
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
gesturenounUS /ˈdʒestʃər/
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
GunmennounUS /ˈɡʌnmen/
plural of “gunman” — a professional killer who uses a gun
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had done their best and failed.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
hi-jackers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
Hopwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
knewverbUS /nuː/
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 Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
loft-robbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
MarynounUS /ˈmeri/
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
murderersnounUS /ˈmɜːrdərərz/
plural of “murderer” — a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
policenounUS /pəˈliːs/
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
resignationnounUS /ˌrezəɡˈneɪʃən/
acceptance of despair
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
Rinehart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
RobertsnounUS /ˈrɑːbərts/
United States biochemist (born in England) honored for his discovery that some genes contain introns (born in 1943)
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
summonverbUS /ˈsʌmən/
call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had done their best and failed.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had done their best and failed.
thugsnounUS /θʌɡz/
plural of “thug” — an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Gunmen, thugs, hi-jackers, loft-robbers, murderers, they could get them all in time—but they could not get the man he wanted.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading The detectives he bellowed the words at looked at the floor.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Failure meant “resignation” for the police chief, return to the hated work of pounding the pavements for them—they knew it, and, knowing it, could summon no gesture of bravado to answer their chief’s.
You've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood “You’ve _got_ to get him, boys—get him or bust!” said a tired police chief, pounding a heavy fist on a table.
