used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
ArchimedesnounUS /ˌɑːrkəˈmiːdiz/
Greek mathematician and physicist noted for his work in hydrostatics and mechanics and geometry (287-212 BC)
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
bracingnounUS /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/
a structural member used to stiffen a framework
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
cross-bars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
crowbarnounUS /ˈkroʊbɑːr/
a heavy iron lever with one end forged into a wedge
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
daudblasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
deliberatingverbUS /dɪˈlɪbəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “deliberate” — think about carefully; weigh
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
dungeonnounUS /ˈdʌndʒən/
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
From this reading "In the dungeon."
elegantlyadverbUS /ˈelɪɡəntliː/
with elegance; in a tastefully elegant manner
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
communicated in words
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
fulcrumnounUS /ˈfʊlkrəm/
the pivot about which a lever turns
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/
a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "In the dungeon."
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
mortarnounUS /ˈmɔːrtər/
a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
not any; not one
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
ole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
purchasenounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/
the acquisition of something for payment
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
rammingverbUS /ˈræmɪŋ/
inflected form of “ram” — strike or drive against with a heavy impact
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading Tom's voice sounded remote.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Tom's voice sounded remote.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
stone-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "In the dungeon."
a special situation
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
push forcefully
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Bob spent no time in deliberating, but thrust the crowbar between the cross-bars of the iron grating.
tipnounUS /tɪp/
the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading Tom's voice sounded remote.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Tom's voice sounded remote.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
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 But by persistently ramming the point of the crowbar against the stone-work at the side of the window he succeeded at length in picking out a little mortar and bracing the tip of the crowbar against a projecting stone.
Zeke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first difficulty was similar to that of Archimedes, he could not get a fulcrum; or, as he expressed it less elegantly to Zeke, "he couldn't git no purchase onto the daudblasted ole thing."
