used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not an atom of charity in it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
atomnounUS /ˈætəm/
(physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
From this reading Not an atom of charity in it.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
for the reason that
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
carelessnessnounUS /ˈkerləsnəs/
the quality of not being careful or taking pains
From this reading Did I let him have my great-coat from carelessness, or from charity?
charitynounUS /ˈtʃerɪti/
a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)
From this reading Did I let him have my great-coat from carelessness, or from charity?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
disgustingadjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
fistsnounUS /fɪsts/
plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Did I let him have my great-coat from carelessness, or from charity?
garmentnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənt/
an article of clothing
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
great-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Did I let him have my great-coat from carelessness, or from charity?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not an atom of charity in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Did I let him have my great-coat from carelessness, or from charity?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What will people think of me?
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Did I let him have my great-coat from carelessness, or from charity?
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading What will people think of me?
ragnounUS /ræɡ/
a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
sledge-hammer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading What will people think of me?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE old scoundrel, he has taken my great-coat, for I did not give it to him, and he has left me this rag, this disgusting garment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What will people think of me?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading What will people think of me?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Not a bit; but because he was stronger than I was, and had I not given it he would have beaten me with those sledge-hammer fists of his.
