adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
armnounUS /ɑːrm/
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
badadjectiveUS /bæd/
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
birthnounUS /bɜːrθ/
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
capnounUS /kæp/
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
clearedadjectiveUS /klɪrd/
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
clickedverbUS /klɪkt/
past form of “click” — move or strike with a noise
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
convulsivelyadverb
with convulsions, in a convulsive way
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/
the act of giving
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
HarrisnounUS /ˈherɪs/
United States author who wrote the stories about Uncle Remus (1848-1908)
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Never mind,” said I, “let's try it.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Never mind,” said I, “let's try it.”
jerkingnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrkɪŋ/
an abrupt spasmodic movement
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
jobnounUS /dʒɑːb/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
let's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Never mind,” said I, “let's try it.”
lockverbUS /lɑːk/
fasten with a lock
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
Marden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading “Never mind,” said I, “let's try it.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
NeveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Never mind,” said I, “let's try it.”
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
obstinateadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbstənət/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
OrleansnounUS /ˈɔːrliənz/
a city on the Loire river in north central France; site of the siege of Orleans by the English (1428-1429)
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
ramrodnounUS /ˈræmrɑːd/
a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Never mind,” said I, “let's try it.”
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
shutverbUS /ʃʌt/
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
smokenounUS /smoʊk/
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
socketnounUS /ˈsɑːkət/
a bony hollow into which a structure fits
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
stocknounUS /stɑːk/
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
tremendousadjectiveUS /trəˈmendəs/
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
trialsnounUS /ˈtraɪəlz/
plural of “trial” — the act of testing something
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
triggerverbUS /ˈtrɪɡər/
put in motion or move to act
From this reading I had fired the pistol once, secretly, in New Orleans, and, remembering the noise it gave birth to on that occasion, I shut both eyes tight as I pulled the trigger.
tryverbUS /traɪ/
make an effort or attempt
From this reading “Never mind,” said I, “let's try it.”
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
vanishedadjectiveUS /ˈvænɪʃt/
having passed out of existence
From this reading The smoke cleared away, and there I stood with the stock of the pistol clutched convulsively in my hand--the barrel, lock, trigger, and ramrod having vanished into thin air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Then Harris tried it; then Charley Marden; then I took it again, and after three or four trials was on the point of giving it up as a bad job, when the obstinate thing went off with a tremendous explosion, nearly jerking my arm from the socket.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The hammer clicked on the cap with a dull, dead sound.
