used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WORK OF A REAL HERO.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
being joined in close association
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
ClingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading THE WORK OF A REAL HERO.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
ice-wagonnoun
(formerly) a horse-drawn wagon that delivered ice door to door
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
Jerry'snounUS /ˈdʒeriz/
possessive form of “jerry” — offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
nerved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WORK OF A REAL HERO.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
and nothing more
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading THE WORK OF A REAL HERO.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
free from harm or evil
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
scrapedverbUS /skreɪpt/
past form of “scrape” — scratch repeatedly
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WORK OF A REAL HERO.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He saw that the horse attached to the ice-wagon could not be stopped and realized only too well what it meant should he be struck down.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading Clinging to the little one, he flung himself backward, and like a flash the horse sprang past, dragging the ice-wagon so close that the wheels scraped his leg.
at the time that
From this reading Jerry's heart was in his throat when he sprang to the rescue of the little child in the street.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE WORK OF A REAL HERO.
produce a literary work
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the sight of that innocent face nerved him on, and in less time than it takes to write it he had the child in his arms.
