used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading "I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury.
inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading "I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
engage in
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
Marbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt.
NewtonnounUS /ˈnuːtən/
English mathematician and physicist; remembered for developing the calculus and for his law of gravitation and his three laws of motion (1642-1727)
From this reading Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
officer'snounUS /ˈɔːfɪsərz/
possessive form of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
PLOTnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
refrain from harming
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
believed likely
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
Swift'snounUS /swɪfts/
possessive form of “swift” — United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
male cat
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
the words that are spoken
From this reading A SUSPECTED PLOT The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading On account of Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to make sure his father was not present.
