used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Who do you suppose did it?” asked Harry.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
burglar's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
Chubnoun
European freshwater game fish with a thick spindle-shaped body
From this reading Chub didn’t reply.
CLUESnounUS /kluːz/
plural of “clue” — a slight indication
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
countersnounUS /ˈkaʊntərz/
plural of “counter” — table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
dejectedlyadverb
in a dejected manner
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
depredationsnounUS /ˌdeprəˈdeɪʃənz/
plural of “depredation” — an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Who do you suppose did it?” asked Harry.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chub didn’t reply.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Who do you suppose did it?” asked Harry.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
one or the other of two
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
frowningadjectiveUS /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/
showing displeasure or anger
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
destroyed or killed
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
helter-skelteradjectiveUS /ˌheltərˈskeltər/
lacking a visible order or organization
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Who do you suppose did it?” asked Harry.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
go away from a place
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
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 CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
oughtn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
packagesnounUS /ˈpækədʒəz/
plural of “package” — a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Chub didn’t reply.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He had seated himself on a box and was frowning dejectedly about him.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
express a supposition
From this reading “Who do you suppose did it?” asked Harry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
tinsnounUS /tɪnz/
plural of “tin” — a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
wailedverbUS /weɪld/
past form of “wail” — emit long loud cries
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CLUES The money was gone from the drawer; boxes, tins, and packages had been pulled from the shelves, examined, and either tossed helter-skelter back or left upon the counters, and on every side lay evidence of the burglar’s depredations.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “I said we oughtn’t to leave the money here,” wailed Harry.
which person or people
From this reading “Who do you suppose did it?” asked Harry.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Who do you suppose did it?” asked Harry.
