used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading You're a fine set of girls."
from one side of something to the other
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
(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 "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
Borden's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
declaringverbUS /dɪˈklerɪŋ/
-ing form of “declare” — state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
without deviation
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
evasivelyadverb
with evasion; in an evasive manner
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading You're a fine set of girls."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading You're a fine set of girls."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
Leonore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You're a fine set of girls."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
piernounUS /pɪr/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
PLANNINGnounUS /ˈplænɪŋ/
an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
protestedverbUS /prəˈtestɪd/
past form of “protest” — utter words of protest
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading You're a fine set of girls."
tactfullyadverbUS /ˈtæktfəli/
showing tact or tactfulness; in a tactful manner
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
carry out
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
a source of difficulty
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
hard to endure
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But to all their inquiries he answered evasively, and was most positive in declaring they could not fetch him home.
at the time that
From this reading PLANNING FOR ACTION "NOW, don't trouble another bit," protested the old man when Leonore pulled into the little boat landing.
in or at the place that
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading From the time they had left Borden's pier the girls had been tactfully trying to find out where he lived, and why they couldn't drive him directly to his place.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I'll take the next boat across, and be all right, thank you for helping me.
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You're a fine set of girls."
