used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
in addition
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
chauffeurnounUS /ʃoʊˈfɜːr/
a man paid to drive a privately owned car
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
departingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
Garvan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
the act of departing
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
MadisonnounUS /ˈmædəsən/
4th President of the United States; member of the Continental Congress and rapporteur at the Constitutional Convention in 1776; helped frame the Bill of Rights (1751-1836)
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
the force of workers available
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
MonknounUS /mʌŋk/
a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
PatsynounUS /ˈpætsi/
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
precludingverbUS /prɪˈkluːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “preclude” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
cut with a saw
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.
significantadjectiveUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important in effect or meaning
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
move hurridly
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
up to a particular time
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
TobynounUS /ˈtoʊbi/
a drinking mug in the shape of a stout man wearing a three-cornered hat
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
having passed out of existence
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
precisely as stated
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
at the time that
From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
