used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
barracksnounUS /ˈbærəks/
plural of “barrack” — a building or group of buildings used to house military personnel
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
challengedverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒd/
past form of “challenge” — take exception to
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
increase twofold
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
fellow-passengers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
a long fixed look
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never had a train ride seemed so long.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
hustledverbUS /ˈhʌsəld/
past form of “hustle” — cause to move furtively and hurriedly
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
a small worthless amount
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Never had a train ride seemed so long.
MexiconounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
a particular point in time
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never had a train ride seemed so long.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Never had a train ride seemed so long.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Never had a train ride seemed so long.
sentrynounUS /ˈsentri/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Never had a train ride seemed so long.
SPYverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The moment the train rolled into the station, the detective hustled Jack to the military barracks in the heart of the city.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Never had a train ride seemed so long.
the act of testing something
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
accept gladly
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
at the time that
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
white-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost midnight when they were challenged by the white-clad sentry before the heavy double gates of the enclosure.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Secret Service guard refused to allow him conversation with his fellow-passengers and as the circumstances were too strained to permit his reading with any degree of interest, Jack had little to do but gaze out of the window and think over his misfortune.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading ON TRIAL AS A SPY The lights of Mexico City were a welcome sight to the young American.
