Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

to come to rest, settle

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

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

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

at or to or toward the back or rear

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

someone who drives a taxi for a living

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

past form of “clamber” — climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

not accessible to view

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

relatively long in duration; tediously protracted

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading In a flash Mrs. Scutts was at the door.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

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

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

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

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

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

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

a form of address for a man

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

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

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

furnishing support and encouragement

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.

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

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

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

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

in the direction of

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.

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

From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.

the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

belonging to which person

From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.