used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
towards the shore from the water
From this reading He would not pause to secure the _Deerfoot_, but would leap ashore the instant he was within reach of it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
having gaps or spaces
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
Deerfoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would not pause to secure the _Deerfoot_, but would leap ashore the instant he was within reach of it.
defiedverbUS /dɪˈfaɪd/
inflected form of “defy” — resist or confront with resistance
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
gibing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
only a very short time before
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He would not pause to secure the _Deerfoot_, but would leap ashore the instant he was within reach of it.
insultedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsʌltɪd/
past form of “insult” — treat, mention, or speak to rudely
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading He would not pause to secure the _Deerfoot_, but would leap ashore the instant he was within reach of it.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
come together
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
MikenounUS /maɪk/
device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
miscreantsnounUS /ˈmɪskriənts/
plural of “miscreant” — a person without moral scruples
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
MurphynounUS /ˈmɜːrfi/
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
and nothing more
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading He would not pause to secure the _Deerfoot_, but would leap ashore the instant he was within reach of it.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
get by special effort
From this reading He would not pause to secure the _Deerfoot_, but would leap ashore the instant he was within reach of it.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
move hurridly
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
TauntingadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːntɪŋ/
abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
in or at that place or location
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Though there were two and each was older than he, they dared not meet him in fair fight!
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
which person or people
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He would not pause to secure the _Deerfoot_, but would leap ashore the instant he was within reach of it.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Then they wheeled about and dashed into the woods as fast as they could go!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading CAPTAIN AND MATE Mike Murphy would have given the launch a speed of fifty miles an hour had it been in his power, so impatient was he to reach the thieves who had not only stolen the launch, but had insulted and defied him.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Taunting and gibing him, the miscreants waited until hardly a dozen yards separated them.
