used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
eagerly desirous
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
move towards
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
indicationnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən/
something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
Jimmie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
hear with intention
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
NED'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WORKING ON NED'S THEORY.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
NestornounUS /ˈnestər/
(Greek mythology) a wise old counselor to the Greeks at Troy
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WORKING ON NED'S THEORY.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
screenedverbUS /skriːnd/
past form of “screen” — test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
screensnounUS /skriːnz/
plural of “screen” — a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
semblancenounUS /ˈsembləns/
an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
ShawnounUS /ʃɔː/
United States clarinetist and leader of a swing band (1910-2004)
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading WORKING ON NED'S THEORY.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
vigilnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading It had been a long night for him, but he had kept his vigil alone, knowing that his chums needed all the rest they could get.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Many times between midnight and morning the noises of the tropical forest had taken on the semblance of human voices, and then he had crept out from the screens to listen intently for some indication of the approach of his friends.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But they had not come, and now he was anxious to set out in search of them.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading At daybreak Frank Shaw stood in the screened porch facing west, watching and waiting for the return of Nestor and Jimmie.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading WORKING ON NED'S THEORY.
