used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
Amy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
Betty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
come to pass
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
masterlyadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərli/
having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
mid-stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
and nothing more
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
RainbownounUS /ˈreɪnboʊ/
an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
referringverbUS /rɪˈfɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
not in physical motion
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
TOYnounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
trampsnounUS /træmpz/
plural of “tramp” — a vagrant
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
treatmentnounUS /ˈtriːtmənt/
care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury)
From this reading And they were still discussing the tramps and Betty’s masterly treatment of them.
undercurrentnounUS /ˈʌndərkɜːrənt/
a subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance; implicit meaning
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In spite of the joke that had been played with the toy pistol, there was an undercurrent of gravity in their conversation.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A TOY PISTOL The girls were sailing out in mid-stream now with the mouth of Rainbow Lake only a short half mile before them.
showing curiosity
From this reading It was impossible to help wondering what might have happened had not Betty been possessed of the toy pistol.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “How did you happen to have it?” asked Amy, curiously, referring to the weapon.
