used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
in actual fact
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
Aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
compassionnounUS /kəmˈpæʃən/
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
a boy or man
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
flintnounUS /flɪnt/
a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
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 Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
overwhelmedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmd/
past form of “overwhelm” — overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
piteouslyadverb
in a piteous manner
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
preserversnounUS /priˈzɜːrvərz/
plural of “preserver” — a skilled worker who is employed to restore or refinish buildings or antique furniture
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
compacted by ironing
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
steeledverbUS /stiːld/
past form of “steel” — get ready for something difficult or unpleasant
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
threatsnounUS /θrets/
plural of “threat” — something that is a source of danger
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading His tones might have stirred a heart of flint.
wailedverbUS /weɪld/
past form of “wail” — emit long loud cries
From this reading “Aren’t there any life preservers on board?” he wailed piteously.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the thought of the revolver that had been so recently pressed against him, and the threats with which he had been overwhelmed, steeled him against compassion.
wretchnounUS /retʃ/
performs some wicked deed
From this reading Ralph actually felt sorry for the fellow, wretch as he knew him to be.
