used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was all due to Marks.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/
the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
BalsamnounUS /ˈbɔːlsəm/
any seed plant yielding balsam
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
Bullhammer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
bullynounUS /ˈbʊli/
a cruel and brutal fellow
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
chronicadjectiveUS /ˈkrɑːnɪk/
being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
cross-grainedadjective
difficult to deal with
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
domineeringadjectiveUS /ˌdɑːməˈnɪrɪŋ/
tending to domineer
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading It was all due to Marks.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
eyesorenounUS /ˈaɪsɔːr/
something very ugly and offensive
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
the act of departing
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
grouchnounUS /ɡraʊtʃ/
a bad-tempered person
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
Halfbreed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
the force of workers available
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
partnershipnounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərʃɪp/
the members of a business venture created by contract
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
provingverbUS /ˈpruːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “prove” — be shown or be found to be
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
regrettableadjectiveUS /rɪˈɡretəbəl/
deserving regret
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was all due to Marks.
toeingverbUS /ˈtoʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “toe” — walk so that the toes assume an indicated position or direction
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
weakeradjectiveUS /ˈwiːkər/
comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading He developed a chronic grouch, and it was not long before he had the two weaker men toeing the mark.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was at Balsam City, and things were going badly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Marks and Bullhammer had formed a partnership with the Halfbreed, the Professor and the Bank clerk, and the arrangement was proving a regrettable one for the latter two.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading At the best of times, he was a cross-grained, domineering bully, and on the trail, which would have worn to a wire edge the temper of an angel, his yellow streak became an eyesore.
