used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
clipsnounUS /klɪps/
plural of “clip” — a metal frame or container holding cartridges; can be inserted into an automatic gun
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A desk occupied one corner of the room.
traveling across
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading A desk occupied one corner of the room.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
drawersnounUS /drɔːrz/
underpants worn by men
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
hingesnounUS /ˈhɪndʒɪz/
plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
not able to be found
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
held or filled or in use
From this reading A desk occupied one corner of the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A desk occupied one corner of the room.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A desk occupied one corner of the room.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
pinsnounUS /pɪnz/
plural of “pin” — a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
pryverbUS /praɪ/
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A desk occupied one corner of the room.
except for; apart from
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Save for a few scattered pins, blank paper and metal clips, the drawers were empty.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Crossing to it, he began searching for an object which might be used to pry off the hinges of the outside door.
under normal conditions
From this reading Flash searched his pockets for a knife he usually carried.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was missing, as were many other articles which had been lost in his flight from the forest fire.
