touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
only a very short time before
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
holdernounUS /ˈhoʊldər/
a holding device
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
improbableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɑːbəbəl/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
a search for knowledge
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
immediately past
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
engage in
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Better for him to hold on as he had been doing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was hardly possible--at least highly improbable--that the red button should be the last.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
make an effort or attempt
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
twenty-firstadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɜːrst/
coming next after the twentieth in position
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading There had been twenty-five chances to one against its being so.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Not any!" was the mental reply he received to this mental inquiry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What difference could it make were he to hand the bag over to some other holder, and try his luck for the twenty-first chance?
