used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At any rate, as Ralph spoke, he turned.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At any rate, as Ralph spoke, he turned.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
a youthful male person
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading “A terribly narrow escape that, sir,” he said.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At any rate, as Ralph spoke, he turned.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
Malvin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then he turned on the man.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading “A terribly narrow escape that, sir,” he said.
Nigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then he turned on the man.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
Persimmons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At any rate, as Ralph spoke, he turned.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading At any rate, as Ralph spoke, he turned.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “A terribly narrow escape that, sir,” he said.
term of address for a man
From this reading “A terribly narrow escape that, sir,” he said.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading At any rate, as Ralph spoke, he turned.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading “A terribly narrow escape that, sir,” he said.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “A terribly narrow escape that, sir,” he said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he turned on the man.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Ralph told Persimmons to go below and attend to his engines before he replied.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading At any rate, as Ralph spoke, he turned.
which person or people
From this reading Perhaps Malvin, who had stood poised as if ready for a jump as they passed the Big Nigger, heard the boy.
