used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
to come or go into
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
go away from a place
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
the act of departing
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
a particular point in time
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading "_A block of steel_" Ah, he had an idea!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But--(was his mind leaving him?) there was something to be done first.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not his own, but for the moment he thought it was.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The way must be cleared for the man in hiding to enter that room before she did.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would leave the office himself and thus give her an opportunity to quit her work and shut herself up with the safe.
