used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I knew our luck had been too good to be true.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
brakesnounUS /breɪks/
a braking device consisting of a combination of interacting parts that work to slow a motor vehicle
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
crampedadjectiveUS /kræmpt/
constricted in size
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
experimentallyadverbUS /ɪkˌsperəˈmentəli/
in an experimental fashion
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
forestallingnounUS /ˌfɔːrˈstɑːlɪŋ/
the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively
From this reading "Tire," said Mollie laconically, forestalling the inevitable questions.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I knew our luck had been too good to be true.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading "Tire," said Mollie laconically, forestalling the inevitable questions.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I knew our luck had been too good to be true.
laconicallyadverb
in a dry laconic manner
From this reading "Tire," said Mollie laconically, forestalling the inevitable questions.
immediately past
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading "I knew our luck had been too good to be true.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
MollienounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "I knew our luck had been too good to be true.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading "Tire," said Mollie laconically, forestalling the inevitable questions.
RAGSnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
move hurridly
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
steeringnounUS /ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
TireverbUS /ˈtaɪər/
lose interest or become bored with something or somebody
From this reading "Tire," said Mollie laconically, forestalling the inevitable questions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "I knew our luck had been too good to be true.
tooting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now if nothing else happens--" The sound of an explosion cut short the rest of the sentence, and she put on the brakes, at the same time tooting a signal to Betty.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "I knew our luck had been too good to be true.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The latter stopped her car and came running back to see what had happened.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading RED RAGS "Well, we've been making pretty good speed for the last three hours," said Mollie, taking first one hand, then the other, from the steering wheel and stretching her cramped fingers experimentally.
