used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
AdamsnounUS /ˈædəmz/
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
enablesverbUS /eˈneɪbəlz/
third-person singular of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
the sound of laughing
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
engage in
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
McCoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
observantadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvənt/
paying close attention especially to details
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
off-handadverb
without preparation
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
Otaheitan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
pertadjectiveUS /pɜːrt/
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
puzzlernounUS /ˈpʌzlər/
a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
restrainverbUS /riˈstreɪn/
to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
rough-an
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
SallynounUS /ˈsæli/
witty remark
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
express in words
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
carry out
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
express in words
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "I may say, Dan McCoy, in an off-hand rough-an'-ready sort o' way, that imagination is that power o' the mind which enables a man to tell lies."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "It's a puzzler," said Otaheitan Sally, in a low tone, which called forth a laugh from the others.
belonging to which person
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It did not take much to make these people laugh, as the observant reader will have perceived.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Well, it _is_ a puzzler," said Adams, with a quiet smile and a perplexed look.
but in spite of that
From this reading "What's imagination?" demanded Dan McCoy, whose tendency to pert interruption and reply nothing yet discovered could restrain.
