used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a menacing expression on his face.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
AscertainingverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “ascertain” — establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
crevicenounUS /ˈkrevəs/
a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
DETECTEDadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading There was a menacing expression on his face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was a menacing expression on his face.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
the force of workers available
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading There was a menacing expression on his face.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
prudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
retracedverbUS /riˈtreɪst/
past form of “retrace” — to go back over again
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a menacing expression on his face.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading JACK IS DETECTED In the course of the afternoon, Jack made another visit to the foot of the staircase.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
look attentively
From this reading Ascertaining this, he ought, in prudence, immediately to have retraced his steps, but he remained on watch for twenty minutes.
at the time that
From this reading When he did return he was startled by finding the old man seated, and waiting for him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He saw through the crevice the same two men at work, but the old man was not with them.
