used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
ariseverbUS /ərˈaɪz/
come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It would be so easy.”
boredadjectiveUS /bɔːrd/
tired of the world
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
cat-mouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
a state at a particular time
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
detachedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtætʃt/
showing lack of emotional involvement
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading “It would be so easy.”
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It would be so easy.”
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
Livingston'snounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋstənz/
possessive form of “livingston” — American Revolutionary leader who served in the Continental Congress and as minister to France (1746-1813)
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
matchingadjectiveUS /ˈmætʃɪŋ/
being two identical
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
Monahan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
on the contrary
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
ScoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “It would be so easy.”
terseadjectiveUS /tɜːrs/
brief and to the point; effectively cut short
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I rather doubt that, captain,” Mr. Monahan answered, matching his cool, detached manner.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Slowly, Mr. Monahan and the Scouts obeyed the captain’s terse command to raise their hands.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
weakenedadjectiveUS /ˈwiːkənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading He lined them up against the rock, but, observing Mr. Livingston’s weakened condition, did not force him to arise.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It would be so easy.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I should do you all in now and put an end to this cat-mouse game,” he said in a bored tone.
