used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
one or the other of two
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
destroyed or killed
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Good morning!"
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
locksnounUS /lɑːks/
plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Good morning!"
in motion
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
nailedverbUS /neɪld/
past form of “nail” — attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
held or filled or in use
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
Ocky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
the act of departing politely
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
possessionsnounUS /pəˈzeʃənz/
plural of “possession” — the act of having and controlling property
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
retortnounUS /ˈriːtɔːrt/
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
SimonnounUS /ˈsaɪmən/
one of the twelve Apostles (first century)
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was gone before he could think of an effective retort.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
in or at the place that
From this reading "I'll be off, too," said Miss Ocky, moving toward the door, where she lingered for a parting shot.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He occupied himself briefly in dragging a heavy chair against the broken window, then put out the lamp and went into his study.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "If I were you, Simon, I'd either have my locks seen to or else have my more valuable possessions nailed down.
