used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Been dancing a jig?” he inquired, caustically.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading I shook my head, for I was not able to utter words.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
any person at all
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
Beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Been dancing a jig?” he inquired, caustically.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
causticallyadverb
in a caustic vitriolic manner
From this reading “Been dancing a jig?” he inquired, caustically.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading “Been dancing a jig?” he inquired, caustically.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I shook my head, for I was not able to utter words.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Been dancing a jig?” he inquired, caustically.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading I shook my head, for I was not able to utter words.
helmetnounUS /ˈhelmət/
armor plate that protects the head
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “Been dancing a jig?” he inquired, caustically.
jigverbUS /dʒɪɡ/
dance a quick dance with leaping and kicking motions
From this reading “Been dancing a jig?” he inquired, caustically.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I shook my head, for I was not able to utter words.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
freed from illness or injury
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
sha'n't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
shoenounUS /ʃuː/
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading I shook my head, for I was not able to utter words.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
having a supporting base
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading I shook my head, for I was not able to utter words.
Vose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading When I hesitated, he snapped, “Give me the truth, now, or we sha’n’t get along after this!”
at the time that
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading Captain Vose was standing in front of me with the helmet in his hands when I had recovered my wits enough to notice anybody.
the words that are spoken
From this reading I shook my head, for I was not able to utter words.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Which did you lose first down there, your nerve or that shoe?”
