used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
ACQUAINTANCESnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
for the reason that
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading And that sort of a bullet does just as much harm as any other.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But I’ve got to do something,” thought Tom.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “But I’ve got to do something,” thought Tom.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And that sort of a bullet does just as much harm as any other.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
erraticadjectiveUS /ɪˈrætɪk/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
evidencedadjectiveUS /ˈevɪdənst/
supported by evidence
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
flapverbUS /flæp/
move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “But I’ve got to do something,” thought Tom.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I’ve got to do something,” thought Tom.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
impulsiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpʌlsɪv/
proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
and nothing more
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
a boy or man
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
hear with intention
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
a particular point in time
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
motorboatnounUS /ˈmoʊtərboʊt/
a boat propelled by an internal-combustion engine
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading And that sort of a bullet does just as much harm as any other.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading And that sort of a bullet does just as much harm as any other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
ponderingadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərɪŋ/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “But I’ve got to do something,” thought Tom.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading And that sort of a bullet does just as much harm as any other.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
carry out
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading OLD ACQUAINTANCES For a moment the lad stood there at the flap of the tent, pondering over the situation.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “But I’ve got to do something,” thought Tom.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
male cat
From this reading “But I’ve got to do something,” thought Tom.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “If I don’t he may take a shot at us, not meaning to do any harm, but just because he’s erratic.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
which person or people
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He realized that he might have a desperate character to deal with--a man who would not listen to reason, and who was impulsive, as evidenced by his leap into the water after the motorboat.
