used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
allynounUS /ˈælaɪ/
a friendly nation
From this reading Derry Duck was no mean ally.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
avowedadjectiveUS /əˈvaʊd/
openly declared as such
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
completely unclothed
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
BlairnounUS /bler/
British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
exhale hard
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
a youthful male person
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
Derry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Derry Duck was no mean ally.
DuckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading Derry Duck was no mean ally.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
insuredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊrd/
covered by insurance
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Derry Duck was no mean ally.
MollynounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
not any; not one
From this reading Derry Duck was no mean ally.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
not divisible by two
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
persecutionsnounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈkjuːʃəns/
plural of “persecution” — the act of persecuting (especially on the basis of race or religion)
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
RobertsonnounUS /ˈrɑːbərtsən/
United States basketball guard (born in 1938)
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
subjectedverbUS /səbˈdʒektɪd/
past form of “subject” — cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
TEMPTATIONnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading TEMPTATION.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The strength of his arm, and his position as second in command, gave him great influence on board the Molly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Derry Duck was no mean ally.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Derry having avowed himself the friend of Blair Robertson, it was well understood that there must be an end to the peculiar persecutions to which the boy had been subjected.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading There were traditions of the power of his bare fist to deal death with a single blow--traditions which won for him an odd kind of respect, and insured for him the obedience he never failed to exact.
