used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
Billy'snounUS /ˈbɪliz/
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
a youthful male person
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
jack-knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
the force of workers available
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
millverbUS /mɪl/
move about in a confused manner
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
MurphynounUS /ˈmɜːrfi/
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading So it seems very natural that Billy and Tom should have become friends.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
not any; not one
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
ofteneradverbUS /ˈɔːfənər/
more often or more frequently
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
cut with a saw
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
express in words
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading So it seems very natural that Billy and Tom should have become friends.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
male cat
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
precisely as stated
From this reading It seems very probable that something would have made them like each other.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
look attentively
From this reading Sitting on a high stool to check time or in a chair to watch the great door had grown so monotonous that Tom really needed to have somebody to talk to.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then there wasn’t any boy in the mill for Billy to get acquainted with; and Billy saw Tom oftener than he saw any of the other men.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A MOUNTAIN OF IRON Whether, if it hadn’t been for Billy’s new jack-knife, he and Thomas Murphy would have become friends, no one can say.
