used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
react verbally
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
constablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
someone who is a detective
From this reading "What is it, Dick?
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
put on clothes
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
handsomely-braided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is it, Dick?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What is it, Dick?
and nothing more
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
mare'snounUS /merz/
possessive form of “mare” — female equine animal
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
be shown or be found to be
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
scrapnounUS /skræp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
a thing, without saying which
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
strawsnounUS /strɔːz/
plural of “straw” — plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading One of the straws out of the mare's nest?" said the superintendent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Ah!" cried the superintendent, showing the first signs of excitement, "smell of powder--that bit of silk!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
waxverbUS /wæks/
cover with wax
From this reading For answer, the man drew at something quite low down by the floor, and it came away in his hand, to prove, on being held to the light of a wax match, a mere scrap of a handsomely-braided silk dress.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is it, Dick?
which person or people
From this reading Just then the constable who had given the alarm suddenly stepped forward and stooped down.
