used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
the state of being absent
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
Allan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
anklenounUS /ˈæŋkəl/
a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
bandagenounUS /ˈbændɪdʒ/
a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
a youthful male person
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
hobbledverbUS /ˈhɑːbəld/
past form of “hobble” — walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
a small worthless amount
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
and nothing more
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
probeverbUS /proʊb/
question or examine thoroughly and closely
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
ROAD'SnounUS /roʊdz/
possessive form of “road” — an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
sprainedverbUS /spreɪnd/
past form of “sprain” — twist suddenly so as to sprain
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood silent as they brought the boy in and set the stretcher on the floor.
stretchernounUS /ˈstretʃər/
a wooden framework on which canvas is stretched and fixed for oil painting
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
unheedingadjective
marked by or paying little heed or attention
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
at the time that
From this reading THE ROAD’S GRATITUDE It was only a memory now, that gray, wet Christmas morning when Allan had been brought home pale and limp, on a stretcher.
a Caucasian
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
wipeverbUS /waɪp/
rub with a circular motion
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mary, too, had thrown on her gown and stood watching the operation with white face.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading They had started from bed at the first tap on the door, for his prolonged absence had begun to worry them, and Jack, unheeding his sprained ankle, had hobbled to it and flung it open.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading He watched the doctor strip back his clothing, remove the rude bandage that had been hastily placed over the wound, wipe away the blood, and begin to probe for the bullet.
