used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He already had.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
delegationnounUS /ˌdeləˈɡeɪʃən/
a group of representatives or delegates
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
one or the other of two
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
HackernounUS /ˈhækər/
someone who plays golf poorly
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He already had.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He already had.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
and nothing more
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
kidverbUS /kɪd/
tell false information to for fun
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
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 I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
and nothing more
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
poeticallyadverbUS /poʊˈetɪkli/
in a poetic manner
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
repeatingnounUS /rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/
the act of doing or performing again
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
precisely, exactly
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
screwballnounUS /ˈskruːbɔːl/
a whimsically eccentric person
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
smart-alecky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
a source of difficulty
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
uppityadjectiveUS /ˈʌpəti/
presumptuously arrogant
From this reading I just knew that an uppity, smart-alecky kid of fifty could only cause trouble.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading God knows I didn't want Hacker in the preliminary delegation right from the start.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading I wasn't thinking, either, of the screwball ways history can go about poetically repeating itself sometimes.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It was a backward world, all right--in a special and very deadly manner!
