used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
ConstablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
someone who is a detective
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
the act of discovering something
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
flooringnounUS /ˈflɔːrɪŋ/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The prisoners had gone.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The prisoners had gone.
happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
InvestigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
not any; not one
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The prisoners had gone.
RandnounUS /rænd/
the basic unit of money in South Africa; equal to 100 cents
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
regrettableadjectiveUS /rɪˈɡretəbəl/
deserving regret
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
reportingnounUS /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/
the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading On the following morning as Dick opened the door a deep silence greeted him.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Investigation showed that part of the flooring had been removed and that the outlaws had dug their way out during the night.
at the time that
From this reading The escape of the outlaws from the warehouse during the night was one of those regrettable happenings that come occasionally when least expected.
which person or people
From this reading The shock of this discovery staggered Dick, who lost no time in reporting to Constable Rand.
