used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
(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 The result was in all cases the same.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
being joined in close association
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading The result was in all cases the same.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
drillsnounUS /drɪlz/
plural of “drill” — a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows)
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
greasenounUS /ɡriːs/
a thick fatty oil (especially one used to lubricate machinery)
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
Harry's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
with speed
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The result was in all cases the same.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The result was in all cases the same.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
sharpeningverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpənɪŋ/
-ing form of “sharpen” — make sharp or sharper
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
not in physical motion
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The result was in all cases the same.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
a source of difficulty
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Sand and small stones were brought up attached to the grease.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The result was in all cases the same.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENT Six more days were spent in driving holes according to Harry's plan.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They had now sunk the holes at a much more rapid rate than at first, for they were accustomed to the work, their muscles had hardened, and they were able to strike more frequently and with greater force.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They would have got on still more quickly had it not been for the trouble in sharpening the drills.
