used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
anvilnounUS /ˈænvəl/
a heavy block of iron or steel on which hot metals are shaped by hammering
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
Awfullest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
benignadjectiveUS /bɪˈnaɪn/
not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
BlacksmithnounUS /ˈblæksmɪθ/
a smith who forges and shapes iron with a hammer and anvil
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
carpenternounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntər/
a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
ChronicadjectiveUS /ˈkrɑːnɪk/
being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
clean-shavenadjective
closely shaved recently
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
denotedverbUS /dɪˈnoʊtəd/
past form of “denote” — be a sign or indication of
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
Dunkardnoun
an adherent of Baptistic doctrines (who practice baptism by immersion)
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
helpernounUS /ˈhelpər/
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
LoafernounUS /ˈloʊfər/
person who does no work
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
MillernounUS /ˈmɪlər/
United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
mulenounUS /mjuːl/
hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
nippingadjectiveUS /ˈnɪpɪŋ/
capable of wounding
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
RaccoonnounUS /ræˈkuːn/
the fur of the North American racoon
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
scissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
shoeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
having a supporting base
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
a special situation
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
bound or secured closely
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
Tinsmithnoun
someone who makes or repairs tinware
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
very small
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
twistingnounUS /ˈtwɪstɪŋ/
the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading _The Awfullest Thing._ The Chronic Loafer sat upon the anvil.
the topmost one of two
From this reading The stranger had hair that reached to his shoulders, a clean-shaven upper lip, a long beard and a benign aspect that denoted him a Dunkard.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading He had been telling a few stories of the recent events in Raccoon Valley, whence he hailed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
which person or people
From this reading He was facing the Tinsmith and the Miller, who had climbed up on the carpenter bench, and by twisting his neck at the risk of his balance, he could see the tall, thin man standing by the mule which the helper was shoeing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A leather apron was tied about his neck, and behind him stood the Blacksmith, nipping at his great shock of hair with a tiny pair of scissors.
