used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FIENDISH PLOT.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
FIENDISHadjectiveUS /ˈfiːndɪʃ/
extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
From this reading A FIENDISH PLOT.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
PLOTnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading A FIENDISH PLOT.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He put his ear close to the opening, however, and listened.
with low volume
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
skulkers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
in the near future
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
directed up
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The two skulkers soon disappeared, having drawn too close to the nearer wall for Nick Carter to see them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was enabled to hear the ladder placed against the fire escape, faint though the sound was, and to check off the men’s movements as they climbed upward.
at the time that
From this reading When they approached the second floor, he quietly slipped out of his chair and retreated into the shadows in the middle of the room.
