used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
(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 To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading But along with the hand he drew out a "snapping" turtle.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
bittenverbUS /ˈbɪtən/
inflected form of “bite” — to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But along with the hand he drew out a "snapping" turtle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
customernounUS /ˈkʌstəmər/
someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
characterized by great determination
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading But along with the hand he drew out a "snapping" turtle.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
fainadjectiveUS /feɪn/
having made preparations
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
insertedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɜːrtəd/
past form of “insert” — put or introduce into something
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
lardernounUS /ˈlɑːrdər/
a supply of food especially for a household
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
market-basket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But along with the hand he drew out a "snapping" turtle.
plundernounUS /ˈplʌn.dər/
Goods or treasure taken by force or theft, especially in war or banditry.
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/
a stock or supply of foods
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
prowlingverbUS /ˈpraʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “prowl” — move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
relieve from
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
get by special effort
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
snappingverbUS /ˈsnæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading But along with the hand he drew out a "snapping" turtle.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
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 A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He immediately inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
tortoisenounUS /ˈtɔːrtəs/
usually herbivorous land turtles having clawed elephant-like limbs; worldwide in arid area except Australia and Antarctica
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
turtlenounUS /ˈtɜːrtəl/
a sweater or jersey with a high close-fitting collar
From this reading But along with the hand he drew out a "snapping" turtle.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading To get rid of the "ugly customer" was his next care; but, in spite of all his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
precisely as stated
From this reading A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
at the time that
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The thief was prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions.
