used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
castawaysnounUS /ˈkæstəweɪz/
plural of “castaway” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
CHICAGOnounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
DARKESTadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkəst/
superlative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
discreetadjectiveUS /dɪˈskriːt/
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
dolefuladjectiveUS /ˈdoʊlfəl/
filled with or evoking sadness
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/
a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
footpad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
indistinctlyadverb
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading He answered indistinctly from a discreet distance, as he hastened away.
introductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
and nothing more
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
pedestriannounUS /pəˈdestriən/
a person who travels by foot
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
sandbaggingverbUS /ˈsændbæɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “sandbag” — treat harshly or unfairly
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
taxicabnounUS /ˈtæksikæb/
a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Perhaps he thought their question merely a footpad's introduction to a sandbagging episode.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Both of them knew their Chicago, but this part of it was not their Chicago.
in or at the place that
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading They hailed a pedestrian, to ask where the nearest street car line might be, and whither it might run.
wreckedadjectiveUS /rekt/
destroyed in an accident
From this reading IN DARKEST CHICAGO The castaways from the wrecked taxicab hurried along the doleful street.
