used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
any thing at all
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
BEGINSnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
camp-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
DISASTERnounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
of an obscure nature
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
NelsonnounUS /ˈnelsən/
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
not in physical motion
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
THREATENSverbUS /ˈθretənz/
third-person singular of “threaten” — pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
male cat
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Supper was over and camp-fire was still an hour distant.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were sitting--Dan and Nelson and Tom--on the edge of the landing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading BEGINS A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE WHICH THREATENS TO END IN DISASTER “I haven’t said anything about it to Bob,” Dan explained.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Behind them the hillside was darkening with the mysterious shadows of night.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You see, he’s so kind of--kind of--well, proper, you know.”
