used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
Brien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
bristledadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪsəld/
having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading O'Brien peeped upwards at him but did not move.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
Cann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
clothing in general
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading O'Brien peeped upwards at him but did not move.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading O'Brien peeped upwards at him but did not move.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
MacnounUS /mæk/
a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading O'Brien peeped upwards at him but did not move.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading O'Brien peeped upwards at him but did not move.
O'BriennounUS /oʊˈbraɪɪn/
Irish writer (born in 1932)
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
peepedverbUS /piːpt/
past form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading O'Brien peeped upwards at him but did not move.
pratenoun
idle or foolish and irrelevant talk
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
raspingadjective
unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
cut with a saw
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
be seated
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "It's the man himself," said he, "the man that stole my clothes."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading O'Brien peeped upwards at him but did not move.
precisely as stated
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was staring at Brien O'Brien, and as he stared he bristled like a dog.
at the time that
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Mac Cann saw the visitors he halted for an instant and then came forward very slowly, with his head on one side and his thumb rasping steadily on his chin.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Sit down and hold your prate," said he, "or I'll steal your life."
