used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
the state of being absent
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
accumulationnounUS /əˌkjuːmjəˈleɪʃən/
an increase by natural growth or addition
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading By the time Phil got back Sol had disappeared.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
borderingverbUS /ˈbɔːrdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “border” — extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
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 Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
BreachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time Phil got back Sol had disappeared.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
copeverbUS /koʊp/
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
DaltonnounUS /ˈdɔːltən/
English chemist and physicist who formulated atomic theory and the law of partial pressures; gave the first description of red-green color blindness (1766-1844)
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading By the time Phil got back Sol had disappeared.
take in liquids
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
divisible by two
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading By the time Phil got back Sol had disappeared.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
Hanson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
not accessible to view
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
a human being
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
Phil's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
profferedverbUS /ˈprɑːfərd/
past form of “proffer” — present for acceptance or rejection
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
slaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
smithynoun
a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
SolnounUS /sɑːl/
a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
in or at or to some place
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time Phil got back Sol had disappeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Breach and a Confession It was but two days from Christmas.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
(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 Sol, in fact, had been slaving at nights as well as during the day, until even he was bordering on a physical exhaustion.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Jim Dalton, that evil genius, came into the smithy during a temporary absence of Phil's, proffered Sol a drink from the inevitable bottle which he always seemed to have hidden somewhere about his person, and Sol was too weak to refuse.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Phil and Sol Hanson had been striving hard to cope with an accumulation of work so that they might be clear of it during the holiday season.
