used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
eagerly desirous
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
the two together, not just one
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
a youthful male person
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
wanted intensely
From this reading More than ever he desired to escape.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
one or the other of two
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading More than ever he desired to escape.
divisible by two
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
at any time
From this reading More than ever he desired to escape.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
LingnounUS /lɪŋ/
water chestnut whose spiny fruit has two rather than 4 prongs
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
Men-Ching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than ever he desired to escape.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
go across or through
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
recognisedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/
provided with a secure reputation
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
stealthnounUS /stelθ/
avoiding detection by moving carefully
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
express a supposition
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than ever he desired to escape.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
a special situation
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading All three of them, however, were caught like rats in a trap, for Ling guarded the entrance, and it was as much as the life of any one of them was worth to attempt to pass, either by force or stealth.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Frank had every reason to suppose that he would be recognised in spite of his disguise.
WunounUS /wuː/
a dialect of Chinese spoken in the Yangtze delta
From this reading It was clear that both Yung How and even Ah Wu himself were equally anxious to get away from the room.
a late time of life
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
Yung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To deceive Men-Ching was one thing, but Yung How had known the boy for years.
