Chapter III · A Twisted Skein

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

in addition

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

wildly; without self-control

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Matt felt that the young woman should claim his first attention.

clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading Matt felt that the young woman should claim his first attention.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

true confidential information

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

the act of leaving secretly or without explanation

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

the operator of a motor vehicle

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Matt felt that the young woman should claim his first attention.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Matt felt that the young woman should claim his first attention.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Matt felt that the young woman should claim his first attention.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading This problem, however, would have to wait.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

and nothing more

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

-ing form of “masquerade” — take part in a masquerade

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

on the negative side or lower end of a scale

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

a course of conduct

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading This problem, however, would have to wait.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Matt felt that the young woman should claim his first attention.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

required or under orders

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This problem, however, would have to wait.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

propel through the air

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading This problem, however, would have to wait.

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 As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading There were a number of details that perplexed our young friend just then, and among them--and not the least--was the strange disappearance of the driver of the machine.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading As though a taxicab, minus its driver and running amuck into a stone wall, was not enough hard luck to throw across the path of Motor Matt, he had also to deal with a young woman masquerading in man’s attire.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading But for the mishap to the taxicab, Matt would probably never have discovered that the supposed youth was other than “he” seemed.