used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Tom was following what appeared to be the drive.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
completely unclothed
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It must be a private estate.
for the reason that
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
destituteadjectiveUS /ˈdestətuːt/
poor enough to need help from others
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
doubtsnounUS /daʊts/
plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Tom was following what appeared to be the drive.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading It must be a private estate.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
expenditurenounUS /ɪkˈspendətʃər/
money paid out; an amount spent
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Tom was following what appeared to be the drive.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must be a private estate.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
lavishadjectiveUS /ˈlævɪʃ/
very generous
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
the light of the Moon
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must be a private estate.
neighboringadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
on one occasion
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
ornamentalnounUS /ˌɔːrnəˈmentəl/
any plant grown for its beauty or ornamental value
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading It must be a private estate.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
siftedverbUS /ˈsɪftɪd/
past form of “sift” — move as if through a sieve
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
SPIESnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
male cat
From this reading Tom was following what appeared to be the drive.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It was not difficult to do so, because of the moonlight that sifted down through the bare branches of the neighboring ornamental trees, now destitute of foliage.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tom was following what appeared to be the drive.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Tom was following what appeared to be the drive.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A NEST OF SPIES Neither of the air service boys had any doubts now with regard to the character of the grounds they were invading at dead of night.
a late time of life
From this reading Once it may have been kept up through a lavish expenditure of money, but of late years things had evidently been allowed to grow more or less wild.
