used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “That means a lay-up,” said Jerry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
axlenounUS /ˈæksəl/
a shaft on which a wheel rotates
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
BUYERnounUS /ˈbaɪər/
a person who buys
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
damagenounUS /ˈdæmədʒ/
the occurrence of a change for the worse
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
Dejectedlyadverb
in a dejected manner
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading “That means a lay-up,” said Jerry.
lay-upnounUS /ˈleɪˈʌp/
a basketball shot made with one hand from a position under or beside the basket (and usually banked off the backboard)
From this reading “That means a lay-up,” said Jerry.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading “That means a lay-up,” said Jerry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
peltingnounUS /ˈpeltɪŋ/
anything happening rapidly or in quick successive
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “That means a lay-up,” said Jerry.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
slickersnounUS /ˈslɪkərz/
plural of “slicker” — a macintosh made from cotton fabric treated with oil and pigment to make it waterproof
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
smashedadjectiveUS /smæʃt/
very drunk
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
refrain from harming
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
straightenedverbUS /ˈstreɪtənd/
past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That means a lay-up,” said Jerry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
We've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’ve got a spare wheel, but we can’t get it on the axle until it’s straightened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They did not stop to put on their slickers, so eager were they to see the extent of the damage.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading It was bad enough, for the wheel was smashed and the end of the axle bent.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading THE CATTLE BUYER Dejectedly, and fearing the worst, the boys piled out of the automobile into the pelting rain.
