used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What had he better do about it?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
for the reason that
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading What had he better do about it?
BristlesnounUS /ˈbrɪsəlz/
plural of “bristle” — a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
commitverbUS /kəˈmɪt/
perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What had he better do about it?
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
Gabe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
and nothing more
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
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 They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
Larkins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
Muster's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
opals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
on the contrary
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
settlesnounUS /ˈsetəlz/
plural of “settle” — a long wooden bench with a back
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
shiververbUS /ˈʃɪvər/
tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
THIEFnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A PLAN TO CATCH THE THIEF "That settles it!"
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What had he better do about it?
at the time that
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had appeared rather pretty when he looked at them in Miss Muster's best room, on the occasion of his visit there in company with Bristles.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Fred was saying these three words over several times to himself as he stood and stared at the seven little opals.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading They gave him a shiver now; just because he knew that they had tempted weak Gabe Larkins to commit a terrible wrong.
