used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
comradenounUS /ˈkɑːmræd/
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
departingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
a person of German nationality
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
a small worthless amount
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
nabbedverbUS /næbd/
inflected form of “nab” — tag the base runner to get him out
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
and nothing more
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
by chance
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper.”
SAILINGnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
taxicabnounUS /ˈtæksikæb/
a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.
male cat
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!” he exclaimed in a disappointed tone.
at the time that
From this reading THE SECRET SAILING Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement.
in or at the place that
From this reading “Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy?
