adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
anywayadverbUS /ˈeniweɪ/
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading But I shakes hands with him, anyway.
artistsnounUS /ˈɑːrtɪsts/
plural of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
Bassett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
BillnounUS /bɪl/
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
bragsnounUS /bræɡz/
plural of “brag” — an instance of boastful talk
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I shakes hands with him, anyway.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
callverbUS /kɔːl/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
conceitnounUS /kənˈsiːt/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
drainedadjectiveUS /dreɪnd/
emptied or exhausted of (as by drawing off e.g. water or other liquid)
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
exchangesnounUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “exchange” — chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
explodesverbUS /ɪkˈsploʊdz/
third-person singular of “explode” — cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading "'Oil,' says I, 'never explodes.
formsnounUS /fɔːrmz/
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading It's the gas that forms that explodes.'
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading It's the gas that forms that explodes.'
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
gum-shoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But I shakes hands with him, anyway.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But I shakes hands with him, anyway.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "'Oil,' says I, 'never explodes.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
informverbUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrm/
impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's the gas that forms that explodes.'
kindredadjectiveUS /ˈkɪndrɪd/
similar in quality or character
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
linesnounUS /laɪnz/
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
meetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
MississippinounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
name'snounUS /neɪmz/
possessive form of “name” — a language unit by which a person or thing is known
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "'Oil,' says I, 'never explodes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
OilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading "'Oil,' says I, 'never explodes.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
pridenounUS /praɪd/
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
saysnounUS /sez/
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "'Oil,' says I, 'never explodes.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
shakesnounUS /ʃeɪks/
plural of “shake” — building material used as siding or roofing
From this reading But I shakes hands with him, anyway.
sitsverbUS /sɪts/
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It's the gas that forms that explodes.'
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It's the gas that forms that explodes.'
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
tiesnounUS /taɪz/
plural of “tie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
WelladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Well, me and this Bill Bassett sits on the ties and exchanges brags as artists in kindred lines will do.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But I shakes hands with him, anyway.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'My name's Bill Bassett,' says he to me, 'and if you'll call it professional pride instead of conceit, I'll inform you that you have the pleasure of meeting the best burglar that ever set a gum-shoe on ground drained by the Mississippi River.'
