used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
(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 Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
bad-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
next to; at the side of
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
frontiernounUS /frənˈtɪr/
a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
grudgenounUS /ɡrʌdʒ/
a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
gustily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
gutternounUS /ˈɡʌtər/
a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
JuareznounUS /ˈwɑːrez/
a city in northern Mexico on the Rio Grande opposite El Paso
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
the force of workers available
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
on one occasion
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
outdoorsadverbUS /ˈaʊtˈdɔːrz/
outside a building
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
participate in games or sport
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
pokernounUS /ˈpoʊkər/
fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
rivulets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
sixthadjectiveUS /sɪksθ/
coming next after the fifth and just before the seventh in position
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
slantverbUS /slænt/
lie obliquely
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
speededverbUS /ˈspiːdɪd/
past form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
untamedadjective
in a natural state; not tamed or domesticated or cultivated
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was pouring in rivulets along the gutter beside the curb.
(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 Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
at the time that
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS The cab whirled round the corner and speeded down a side street that stretched as far as they could see silent and deserted in the storm.
which person or people
From this reading Some sixth sense of safety--one that comes to many men who live in the outdoors on the untamed frontier--warned Clay that all was not well.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The rain, falling faster now, beat gustily in a slant against the left window of the cab.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had felt that bell of instinct ring in him once at Juarez when he had taken a place at a table to play poker with a bad-man who had a grudge at him.
