used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
devilishadjectiveUS /ˈdevlɪʃ/
showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
foolishnessnounUS /ˈfuːlɪʃnəs/
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
fouladjectiveUS /faʊl/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
Manuel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
OUTWITTEDverbUS /ˈaʊtwɪtɪd/
inflected form of “outwit” — beat through cleverness and wit
From this reading OUTWITTED.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
by chance
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
participate in games or sport
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
suspicionsnounUS /səˈspɪʃənz/
plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
carry out
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
a source of difficulty
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
unawaresadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈwerz/
without forethought or plan; inadvertently
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
at the time that
From this reading THE chums hastened below when the schooner was reached for they were eager to talk over the next move to be made.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It's better to have trouble with them right now while we are prepared than to wait and perhaps have them take us unawares."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Things have got to be brought to a head right off," declared the captain when Charley had acquainted him with his suspicions of Manuel's foul play.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "It's rank foolishness to linger along an' give them more chances to work out their devilish tricks.
