Chapter XX

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

Having no one else present.

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Verbeck's enthusiasm began to die instantly.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

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

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

a man paid to drive a privately owned car

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

recognizable; marked

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Verbeck's enthusiasm began to die instantly.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

a feeling of excitement

From this reading Verbeck's enthusiasm began to die instantly.

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

an association of criminals

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading Verbeck's enthusiasm began to die instantly.

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

plural of “lander” — a town in central Wyoming

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

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 ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

in order that something should not happen

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

a commissioned military officer

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

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

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

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

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

by chance

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

with speed

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

an open automobile having a front seat and a rumble seat

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

not in physical motion

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He got out of the cab half a block away from the hotel entrance, and looked around for the roadster and Muggs, but failed to find them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading For half an hour Verbeck loitered around the corner, and then he decided that Muggs had been forced to go on alone, that Landers had left the hotel and Muggs had been afraid to remain behind, lest he lose his man.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

up to a particular time

From this reading He had hoped to find Muggs still there, to join him, possibly to follow Landers until he met more of the gang.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.

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

From this reading Verbeck's enthusiasm began to die instantly.

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL Having received Muggs' startling telephone message that he was trailing Landers, the master crook's trusted lieutenant, Roger Verbeck left his fiancée, hurried from the apartment house, engaged a taxicab, and had the chauffeur drive him to the New Nortonia Hotel as quickly as possible.