used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RUFFIANS AT ODDS.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
clinked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
defensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
desperate-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
gamblingnounUS /ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
the act of retaining something
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
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 A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
loungingverbUS /ˈlaʊndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “lounge” — sit or recline comfortably
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
the force of workers available
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
Merriwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
monknounUS /mʌŋk/
a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
not any; not one
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
ODDSnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading RUFFIANS AT ODDS.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
playersnounUS /ˈpleɪərz/
plural of “player” — a person who participates in or is skilled at some game
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
RUFFIANS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RUFFIANS AT ODDS.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The card players were gambling, and money clinked on the table before them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Some of the men were idly lounging about as they smoked, while others were playing cards.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had met a number of them face to face, and succeeded in holding them in check with no more than the crooked staff of the old monk for his weapon of defense.
but in spite of that
From this reading A picturesque and desperate-looking group they were, yet Merriwell felt and knew by experience that they were far more dangerous in appearance than in actual fact.
