used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
adventurernounUS /ædˈventʃərər/
a person who enjoys taking risks
From this reading The fat adventurer nodded assent, his eyes contracting.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
assentnounUS /əˈsent/
agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
From this reading The fat adventurer nodded assent, his eyes contracting.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
braceverbUS /breɪs/
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
brusquelyadverbUS /ˈbrʌskli/
in a blunt direct manner
From this reading “Very well!” continued Kirkwood brusquely.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
CalendarnounUS /ˈkæləndər/
a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
without stop or interruption
From this reading “Very well!” continued Kirkwood brusquely.
contractingnounUS /ˈkɑːntræktɪŋ/
becoming infected
From this reading The fat adventurer nodded assent, his eyes contracting.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
detainedverbUS /dɪˈteɪnd/
past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
opinion or judgment
From this reading The fat adventurer nodded assent, his eyes contracting.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The fat adventurer nodded assent, his eyes contracting.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On the other hand, you ...
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The fat adventurer nodded assent, his eyes contracting.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
Kirkwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Very well!” continued Kirkwood brusquely.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The fat adventurer nodded assent, his eyes contracting.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the other hand, you ...
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the other hand, you ...
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
shakesnounUS /ʃeɪks/
plural of “shake” — building material used as siding or roofing
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
precisely as stated
From this reading “Very well!” continued Kirkwood brusquely.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
(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 “Very well!” continued Kirkwood brusquely.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You must know that I have personally nothing to fear from the police; if arrested, I wouldn’t be detained a day.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Calendar,” he began, “if a single shot is fired about this vessel the river police will be buzzing round your ears in a brace of shakes.”
