used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
abridgedadjectiveUS /əˈbrɪdʒd/
(used of texts) shortened by condensing or rewriting
From this reading And he had not abridged his tales of sprightly adventure in imparting them to Westy.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading And he had not abridged his tales of sprightly adventure in imparting them to Westy.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And he had not abridged his tales of sprightly adventure in imparting them to Westy.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
Bedford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been to sea on a New Bedford whaler.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been to sea on a New Bedford whaler.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
confidedverbUS /kənˈfaɪdɪd/
past form of “confide” — reveal in private; tell confidentially
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
dimenounUS /daɪm/
a United States coin worth one tenth of a dollar
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
exploitsnounUS /ˈeksplɔɪts/
plural of “exploit” — a notable achievement
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
Hasbrook's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
impartingnounUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
the transmission of information
From this reading And he had not abridged his tales of sprightly adventure in imparting them to Westy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
IranounUS /ˈaɪrə/
a militant organization of Irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces from Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
killingnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
limitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/
small in range or scope
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
full of life and energy
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
narrativenounUS /ˈnærətɪv/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He had been to sea on a New Bedford whaler.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had been to sea on a New Bedford whaler.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading He had been to sea on a New Bedford whaler.
sprightlyadjectiveUS /ˈspraɪtli/
full of spirit and vitality
From this reading And he had not abridged his tales of sprightly adventure in imparting them to Westy.
SUFFERERnounUS /ˈsʌfərər/
a person suffering from an illness
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
swatting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading And he had not abridged his tales of sprightly adventure in imparting them to Westy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And he had not abridged his tales of sprightly adventure in imparting them to Westy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
varietynounUS /vərˈaɪəti/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE SUFFERER In truth, if this were a narrative of Ira Hasbrook’s adventures, it might be thought lively reading of the dime novel variety.
Westy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had not, as he had confided to Westy, limited his killing exploits to swatting flies.
whalernounUS /ˈweɪlər/
a seaman who works on a ship that hunts whales
From this reading He had been to sea on a New Bedford whaler.
which person or people
From this reading He was one of those universal characters who have a way of drifting finally to farms.
