used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
from appearances alone
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
clumsilyadverbUS /ˈklʌmsəli/
in a clumsy manner
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
extractedverbUS /ekˈstræktɪd/
past form of “extract” — remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
fetchedverbUS /fetʃt/
past form of “fetch” — go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading "I've fetched him," he muttered.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
willing to give and share unstintingly
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've fetched him," he muttered.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
KneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
maneuvernounUS /məˈnuːvər/
a military training exercise
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "I've fetched him," he muttered.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
in the near future
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
ReassuredadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrd/
having confidence restored; freed from anxiety
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
SwedenounUS /swiːd/
a native or inhabitant of Sweden
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
tamperingnounUS /ˈtæmpərɪŋ/
the act of altering something secretly or improperly
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
push forcefully
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
in the direction of
From this reading Reassured, apparently, that nobody had been tampering with it, he thrust it with a generous movement towards the Swede.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
unrolledverbUS /ˌʌnˈroʊld/
past form of “unroll” — reverse the winding or twisting of
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His first maneuver was to hold the bottle up to the light.
whiskeynounUS /ˈwɪski/
a liquor made from fermented mash of grain
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Presently he backed clumsily from under the bed, dragging with him an old coat rolled into a bundle.
yellow-brownadjective
of a medium to dark brownish yellow color
From this reading Kneeling on the floor, he unrolled the coat and extracted from its heart a large yellow-brown whiskey bottle.
