used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading The back door was ajar.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The back door was ajar.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The back door was ajar.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some one had picked the lock.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
home-made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
fasten with a lock
From this reading Some one had picked the lock.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
mumbledverbUS /ˈmʌmbəld/
past form of “mumble” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some one had picked the lock.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
pansnounUS /pænz/
plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Some one had picked the lock.
Polly's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
potsnounUS /pɑːts/
plural of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
pottering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
PROWLERnounUS /ˈpraʊlər/
someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
reckonedverbUS /ˈrekənd/
past form of “reckon” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
RicksnounUS /rɪks/
plural of “rick” — a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some one had picked the lock.
SqueezingnounUS /ˈskwiːzɪŋ/
the act of gripping and pressing firmly
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
stepladdernounUS /ˈsteplædər/
a folding portable ladder hinged at the top
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
stutterverbUS /ˈstʌtər/
speak haltingly
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
male cat
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
Um
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Um....” mumbled Mr. Ricks, pottering into the room, book in hand.
not known
From this reading AN UNKNOWN PROWLER Squeezing the stutter out of my nerves, I followed Tom and my chums into the kitchen.
wabbly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in opening the door the unknown prowler had not reckoned on Aunt Polly’s home-made burglar alarm—a dozen or more pots and pans balanced nicely on a wabbly stepladder.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The back door was ajar.
