used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
a quantity of money
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
antagonist's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
confined by bonds
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
buckingverbUS /ˈbʌkɪŋ/
-ing form of “buck” — to strive with determination
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
dearly loved
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
equanimitynounUS /ˌek.wəˈnɪm.ə.t̬i/
Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
at any time
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
fidgeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
foolsnounUS /fuːlz/
plural of “fool” — a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
HughesnounUS /hjuːz/
English poet (born in 1930)
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
impulsivelyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpʌlsɪvli/
in an impulsive or impetuous way; without taking cautions
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
Labar's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
roused to anger
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
PenelopenounUS /pəˈneləpi/
(Greek mythology) the wife of Odysseus and a symbol of devotion and fidelity; for 10 years while Odysseus fought the Trojan War she resisted numerous suitors until Odysseus returned and killed them
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Hughes fidgeted a little to get his bound hands in a more comfortable position.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
RyenounUS /raɪ/
the seed of the cereal grass
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
SherlocknounUS /ˈʃɜːrlɑːk/
someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
sneerverbUS /snɪr/
express through a scornful smile
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
carry out
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "And talking of fools, what made you mad enough to go to Rye?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading Penelope impulsively gripped more tightly on Labar's arm, but the detective could afford to take his antagonist's sneer with a certain amount of equanimity.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My dear Sherlock, if you had more brains and less luck, you wouldn't ask me that question.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I told you that you couldn't go on bucking against the machine for ever, Larry," he said.
