used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
BULLYnounUS /ˈbʊli/
a cruel and brutal fellow
From this reading BULLY COMES TO GRIEF.
burlyadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrli/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading BULLY COMES TO GRIEF.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
fighternounUS /ˈfaɪtər/
someone who fights (or is fighting)
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading BULLY COMES TO GRIEF.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
Hughart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
located inward
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
a particular point in time
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
immediately following in time or order
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
talkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BULLY COMES TO GRIEF.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
Who's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Who’s talkin’ about the police?” said a voice, and the next moment a burly man appeared in the doorway of the inner room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was almost a giant, and carried himself with the air of a fighter.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “That was quick work,” said Hughart, “but I did not expect to see you helping me.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I had an idea,” replied the detective, “that I wanted a little of your society myself, and so do the police.”
