used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
abstractedlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading They were beautiful.
next to; at the side of
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
BuffalonounUS /ˈbʌfəloʊ/
large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
coins made of gold
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading They were very heavy.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
not any; not one
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
nuggetsnounUS /ˈnʌɡəts/
plural of “nugget” — a solid lump of a precious metal (especially gold) as found in the earth
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
phraseologynounUS /ˌfreɪziˈɔːlɔːdʒi/
the manner in which something is expressed in words
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
Rawley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
technicaladjectiveUS /ˈteknɪkəl/
of or relating to technique or proficiency in a practical skill
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were very heavy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
TWENTY-TWOnounUS /ˈtwentituː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-one and one
From this reading CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO GREATER THAN GOLD Johnny Buffalo held a handful of nuggets in his hard, brown palms.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
precisely as stated
From this reading They were very heavy.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were very heavy.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading His eyes shone whenever he looked toward the old wheel chair beside the window.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He listened to Rawley’s explanation of why there would be no more gold, but the technical phraseology went completely over his head, and he smiled abstractedly and held up first one bit of gold and then another to the light.
