used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
coal-scuttle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
come to pass
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
and nothing more
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
fasten with a lock
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
engage in
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
robbernounUS /ˈrɑːbər/
a thief who steals from someone by threatening violence
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
robbersnounUS /ˈrɒb.ərz/
Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
a lightweight cord
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
SueverbUS /suː/
institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
bound or secured closely
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
the upper part of anything
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
the topmost one of two
From this reading So he put a coal-scuttle full of coal about half-way up the stairs, and tied a string across the upper hall just at the head of the stairs.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
on a floor above
From this reading He said that if a robber tried to come upstairs, he would upset the coal-scuttle, and make a tremendous noise, and that if he did happen not to upset it, he would certainly fall over the string at the top of the stairs.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The first might, after father had fixed everything nicely for the robbers, he went to bed, and then mother told him that she had forgotten to lock the back door.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading He told us that if we heard the coal-scuttle go off in the night, Sue and mother and I were to open the windows and scream, while he got up and shot the robber.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Father wasn't a bit afraid of the robbers, but he said he'd fix something so that he would wake up if they got in the house.
