used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
accessnounUS /ˈækses/
the right to enter
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
balloonsnounUS /bəˈluːnz/
plural of “balloon” — large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
taking care or paying attention
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
chemistrynounUS /ˈkeməstri/
the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
crackernounUS /ˈkrækər/
a thin crisp wafer made of flour and water with or without leavening and shortening; unsweetened or semisweet
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
Dennis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
depositedverbUS /dəˈpɑːzɪtɪd/
past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
fatiguenounUS /fəˈtiːɡ/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
the act of giving
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
the sound of laughing
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
MallnounUS /mɔːl/
a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
MARAUDERSnounUS /mərˈɔːdərz/
plural of “marauder” — someone who attacks in search of booty
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
by chance
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
McCarty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
make reference to
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
murdersnounUS /ˈmɜːrdərz/
plural of “murder” — unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
neglectingverbUS /nɪˈɡlektɪŋ/
-ing form of “neglect” — leave undone or leave out
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
a person, without saying who
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
carry out
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
uptownnounUS /ˈʌpˈtaʊn/
a residential part of town away from the central commercial district
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
in the company of; together with
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
wizardnounUS /ˈwɪzərd/
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
From this reading “There’s an old guy I know living far uptown that’s a wizard about chemistry,” McCarty observed, neglecting to mention that the “wizard” had an interesting police record.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading “I’ll take the box with what’s left of that blue balloon in it up to him, come morning, but we’ll not breathe a word of it to another living soul!
the words that are spoken
From this reading ’Tis somebody on the Mall or with easy access to it that’s walking around with two murders and a disappearance on the conscience of him, maybe giving us fair words every day and the grand laugh behind our backs.
wreckedadjectiveUS /rekt/
destroyed in an accident
From this reading MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS The litter of wrecked balloons was cleared away and the one which had changed color with such sinister significance was carefully deposited in an empty tin cracker box.
zealnounUS /ziːl/
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading With pipe and cigar alight Dennis and McCarty were discussing the latest development, their fatigue forgotten in their renewed zeal.
