used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
(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 "What is the meaning of it all, brother?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading "What is the meaning of it all, brother?"
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
at any time
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
let have
From this reading GRANT IS MYSTERIOUS.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/
having or manifesting hope
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GRANT IS MYSTERIOUS.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What is the meaning of it all, brother?"
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading "What is the meaning of it all, brother?"
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
of an obscure nature
From this reading GRANT IS MYSTERIOUS.
Nattie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
not any; not one
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
offspringnounUS /ˈɔːfsprɪŋ/
the immediate descendants of a person
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
cut with a saw
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
scrimmagenounUS /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/
(American football) practice play between a football team's squads
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The occupants of the office waited for a few moments to see if the English merchant and his hopeful offspring cared to continue the scrimmage, but no attempt was made to open the door.
(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, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is the meaning of it all, brother?"
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Nattie glanced through the window, and saw them retreating up the street as fast as they could walk.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, did you ever see the beat of that?" he finally exclaimed, turning back to his companions.
