used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
(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 She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
set up or found
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
groovesnounUS /ɡruːvz/
plural of “groove” — a long narrow furrow cut either by a natural process (such as erosion) or by a tool (as e.g. a groove in a phonograph record)
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
handbagnounUS /ˈhændbæɡ/
a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
improviseverbUS /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/
perform without preparation
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
jaggedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒæɡəd/
having a sharply uneven surface or outline
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
Lois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
nailverbUS /neɪl/
attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
not any; not one
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
sashnounUS /sæʃ/
a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
only a very short time before
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
screwnounUS /skruː/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
screwdrivernounUS /ˈskruːdraɪvər/
a hand tool for driving screws; has a tip that fits into the head of a screw
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
screwedverbUS /skruːd/
past form of “screw” — have sexual intercourse with
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
screwsnounUS /skruːz/
plural of “screw” — someone who guards prisoners
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
slatsnounUS /slæts/
plural of “slat” — a thin strip (wood or metal)
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
snappingverbUS /ˈsnæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
at the time that
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
