used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
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 Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
COASTINGverbUS /ˈkoʊstɪŋ/
-ing form of “coast” — move effortlessly; by force of gravity
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
consequencesnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwensəz/
plural of “consequence” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
demanding attention
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
Fly-up-the-Creek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
made afraid
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
a boy or man
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
Lettie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
ParkernounUS /ˈpɑːrkər/
United States saxophonist and leader of the bop style of jazz (1920-1955)
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
smotherverbUS /ˈsmʌðər/
envelop completely
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
sodanounUS /ˈsoʊdə/
a sodium salt of carbonic acid; used in making soap powders and glass and paper
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
Spink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
sputteredverbUS /ˈspʌtərd/
past form of “sputter” — make an explosive sound
From this reading Mildred was crying a little, for she was frightened; but Lettie Parker, Billy declared, sputtered like a bottle of soda.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
express in words
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was certain that Spink had seen the drifting _Fly-up-the-Creek_ and might have averted the collision.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading COASTING It was a mean trick, and one that might have had serious consequences.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “If that lad over there had been able to talk plain,” declared Dan, helping the girls out from under the smother of canvas, “we could have gotten out of the way.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He tried his best to tell us what was coming.”
