used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
an occurrence of something
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
cranksnounUS /kræŋks/
plural of “crank” — a bad-tempered person
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
inventionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃənz/
plural of “invention” — the creation of something in the mind
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
Koku
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
cut with a saw
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
do one's shopping
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
male cat
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
someone who visits
From this reading "I don't like that sort of a visitor.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.
at the time that
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased.
