used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
admonishedverbUS /ədˈmɑːnɪʃt/
past form of “admonish” — advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
burlyadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrli/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
someone who is a detective
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
Donovan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
gangwaynoun
a temporary passageway of planks (as over mud on a building site)
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
a small worthless amount
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
JumpingnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpɪŋ/
the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
kidsnounUS /kɪdz/
plural of “kid” — a young person of either sex
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
MUTINYnounUS /ˈmjuːtəni/
open rebellion against constituted authority (especially by seamen or soldiers against their officers)
From this reading MUTINY.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
prostrateverbUS /ˈprɑːstreɪt/
get into a prostrate position, as in submission
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
pushverbUS /pʊʃ/
move with force
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
regainverbUS /rɪˈɡeɪn/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
sprawlingnounUS /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/
an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about
From this reading The boy’s fist shot out and the sailor, caught fairly on the point of the chin, fell in a sprawling heap.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
swearingnounUS /ˈswerɪŋ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
hard to endure
From this reading Jumping over his prostrate form, as he lay there swearing and trying to regain his feet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As the three boys, for Dick Donovan brought up the rear, sprang up the gangway steps the burly figure of a sailor suddenly blocked their way.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You kids keep out of this,” he admonished, and tried to push Jack back.
