used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
concussionnounUS /kənˈkʌʃən/
injury to the brain caused by a blow; usually resulting in loss of consciousness
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
cranniesnounUS /ˈkræniz/
plural of “cranny” — a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "The Germans have surrounded us?" cried Roger.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Do you mean that?"
remove the dust from
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
brought together in one place
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
GermansnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmənz/
plural of “german” — a person of German nationality
From this reading "The Germans have surrounded us?" cried Roger.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "The Germans have surrounded us?" cried Roger.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
injurynounUS /ˈɪndʒəri/
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
irresponsibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrəˈspɑːnsəbəl/
showing lack of care for consequences
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
Jimmy'snounUS /ˈdʒɪmiz/
possessive form of “jimmy” — a short crowbar
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Do you mean that?"
millverbUS /mɪl/
move about in a confused manner
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
a particular point in time
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
nooksnounUS /nʊks/
plural of “nook” — a sheltered and secluded place
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
perpetratingverbUS /ˈpɜːrpətreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “perpetrate” — perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Germans have surrounded us?" cried Roger.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
confined on all sides
From this reading "The Germans have surrounded us?" cried Roger.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "The Germans have surrounded us?" cried Roger.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading FALLING WALLS For a moment Jimmy's companions did not quite understand him.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was he perpetrating some grim joke, or had he received an injury on the head that made him irresponsible?
in or at the place that
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
a late time of life
From this reading Suddenly the concussion of a heavy gun shook the mill, making the old walls rattle and sending up little clouds of grain dust from nooks and crannies where it had gathered for many peaceful years.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you mean that?"
