used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
anew
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
from appearances alone
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
collectverbUS /kəˈlekt/
get or gather together
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “What happened?” the detective demanded.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading “What happened?” the detective demanded.
effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “What happened?” the detective demanded.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
methodsnounUS /ˈmeθədz/
plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
Muggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
pailnounUS /peɪl/
a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
preferringverbUS /prɪˈfɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “prefer” — like better; value more highly
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
RileynounUS /ˈraɪli/
United States poet (1849-1916)
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
express in speech
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
Verbeck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Riley, preferring effective methods to kindness, grasped a pail of water and dashed the contents of the pail in Muggs’ face.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What happened?” the detective demanded.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading Muggs apparently was making an effort to speak, but could not collect his wits.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He staggered again, and would have fallen had not Verbeck helped him to a chair.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading Blood was flowing from a wound on the back of his head.
