used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
a quantity of money
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
backsights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
divisible by two
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
excavatingverbUS /ˈekskəveɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “excavate” — recover through digging
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
foresights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
set down according to a plan
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
NineteennounUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
Reade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
recurring again and again
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
Identical; not different.
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
SectionnounUS /ˈsekʃən/
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
express a supposition
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THINGS BEGIN TO GO DOWN HILL “I suppose I’m thick,” Harry murmured.
male cat
From this reading “How?” repeated Tom Reade, showing an amount of heat and excitement that he rarely displayed.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading A lot of excavating has to be done before the tracks can be laid here.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, Harry, this same old Section Nineteen is one of the hard spots on the road.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading “How would Black, by turning in some wrong backsights and foresights, expect to delay the building of the road, even if he wanted to do it?”
