used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
(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 Tom cried, as they all stared.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Tom cried, as they all stared.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
BACKWARDadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
chewing-gum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
clevernessnounUS /ˈklev.ər.nəs/
The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Tom cried, as they all stared.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
at any time
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
examinationnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
a boy or man
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
fiendishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːndɪʃ/
extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
filedverbUS /faɪld/
past form of “file” — record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
indentationnounUS /ˌɪndenˈteɪʃən/
a concave cut into a surface or edge (as in a coastline)
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
and nothing more
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
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 Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
not any; not one
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
being perceived or observed
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
picturedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərd/
seen in the mind as a mental image
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Tom cried, as they all stared.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tom cried, as they all stared.
a special situation
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
male cat
From this reading Tom cried, as they all stared.
waxverbUS /wæks/
cover with wax
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
at the time that
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
which person or people
From this reading LOOKING BACKWARD "Just see the fiendish cleverness of the fellow who filed that stay!"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "He filled the indentation his sharp file made with a bit of wax or chewing-gum of the same general color.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Why, no one would ever have noticed the least thing wrong when making the ordinary examination."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Then how did you manage to find it, Tom?" asked Jack, breathing hard, as he pictured to himself the narrow escape he had had.
