used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
(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 He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
one or the other of two
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The lad knew that well enough.
factornounUS /ˈfæktər/
anything that contributes causally to a result
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
an act that fails
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
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 The lad knew that well enough.
a boy or man
From this reading The lad knew that well enough.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
likingnounUS /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/
a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
robbersnounUS /ˈrɒb.ərz/
Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
not in physical motion
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
tackledverbUS /ˈtækəld/
past form of “tackle” — accept as a challenge
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The lad knew that well enough.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was peril in any attempt to halt the leader of the bank robbers.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading He shot out of the shadow of the bushes, still on hands and knees, and threw his body across the track of the running man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A FAILURE AND A SUCCESS But Billy was a factor to be counted on.
(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 The lad knew that well enough.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would have tackled either of the others with a better liking for the job; he knew them to be less desperate.
