used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
clear-cutadjectiveUS /ˈklɪrkʌt/
clearly or sharply defined to the mind
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
drillverbUS /drɪl/
make a hole, especially with a pointed power or hand tool
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
divisible by two
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
mestizonounUS /meˈstiːzoʊ/
a person of mixed racial ancestry (especially mixed European and Native American ancestry)
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
pouncedverbUS /paʊnst/
past form of “pounce” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
with low volume
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
unwaveringlyadverb
with resolute determination
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading But before he could even lift it a clear-cut voice spoke out back of them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The party on the hill was surprised at the action of the mestizo as he fairly pounced upon his rifle.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He held a rifle in his hand and turned it unwaveringly toward the members of the watching group.
which person or people
From this reading They turned, to find back of them a little short man in a blue uniform of a sailor, who had crept up on them quietly from the rear.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Keep your hands off of that gun, or I’ll drill a few holes into you!”
