Chapter I · Exciting News

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

anew

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

replying

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

for the reason that

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

move up and down repeatedly

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

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 At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

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 He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

not any; not one

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

with speed

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

in a shrill voice

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Something was up.

wearing, or having the face adorned with, eyeglasses or an eyeglass

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

up to a particular time

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Something was up.

on a floor above

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Something was up.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He whistled three notes, a long and two short, which meant to Hal Gregg inside that Bob wanted to see him, and to see him quickly.

make whistling sounds

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.

past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds

From this reading Bob Martin stood outside the large red brick house and whistled.

the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Bob whistled again, this time a little more shrilly, and he kept on whistling until a pale, spectacled face appeared at an upstairs window.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading At least, that was what it should have meant to Hal, but evidently it didn’t, because no answering whistle came out to Bob, and no head appeared in any of the windows.