used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
in addition
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
amateurnounUS /ˈæmətɜːr/
someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
confined by bonds
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
CHALKnounUS /tʃɔːk/
A soft white limestone used for marking doors, stone walls, and slate.
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
Dorsett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
first-classadjectiveUS /ˌfɜːrstˈklæs/
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
headingnounUS /ˈhedɪŋ/
a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
Markham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
NewtonnounUS /ˈnuːtən/
English mathematician and physicist; remembered for developing the calculus and for his law of gravitation and his three laws of motion (1642-1727)
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
go across or through
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
peddlernounUS /ˈpedlər/
someone who travels about selling his wares (as on the streets or at carnivals)
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
proficientadjectiveUS /prɑːˈfɪʃənt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
with low volume
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Markham looked down the street after the retreating figures of old Dorsett and his companion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading He cut down an alley, and heading them off allowed them to pass him by and quietly followed on their trail.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A PIECE OF CHALK Frank Newton had said that Markham was a first-class peddler.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He saw they were bound for the business centre of the town.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading If he had followed his young friend as he darted from the house, he would also have noted him quite a proficient amateur detective.
