used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
anew
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
CanenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
du
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
Harley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m with you.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well, that’s settled,” said George.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading “Well, that’s settled,” said George.
be seated
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
speculatornounUS /ˈspekjəleɪtər/
someone who makes conjectures without knowing the facts
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
straddlingverbUS /ˈstrædlɪŋ/
-ing form of “straddle” — sit or stand astride of
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
carry out
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, that’s settled,” said George.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE PLAN The town lot speculator took his feet down from the desk and George, flinging his cigarette away, got up, took a few paces, and altered his position by straddling his chair, leaning his arms on the back.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a favourite trick of old Harley du Cane.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, that’s settled,” said George.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
at the time that
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I’m with you.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When big things were on, and if there was a crisis and he was seated and talking to you, ten to one he’d get up, take a few paces, and then sit down again straddling his chair as if he were riding a horse.
