used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
anew
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
conferringverbUS /kənˈfɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “confer” — have a conference in order to talk something over
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
Elmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading FAITHFUL TO HIS FRIEND.
flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/
having been flattened
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading FAITHFUL TO HIS FRIEND.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading FAITHFUL TO HIS FRIEND.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
intentionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃənz/
plural of “intention” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
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 If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
for more time
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
the force of workers available
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
not any; not one
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
possessing material wealth
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FAITHFUL TO HIS FRIEND.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Honest men do not creep around the house of a rich man at such an hour of the night, and put their heads close together.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If Elmer had had the least doubt before concerning their evil intentions, it was no longer in evidence.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading NOW they had stopped again, and seemed to be conferring in whispers.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He flattened himself out on the ground, having dropped like a stone, though without the least noise.
