used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
(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 “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “I got away without the deacon’s seeing me.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
Bedford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was right after me, and I didn’t think I made much noise.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
deacon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I got away without the deacon’s seeing me.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was right after me, and I didn’t think I made much noise.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
foster-parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But he was right after me, and I didn’t think I made much noise.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I got away without the deacon’s seeing me.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But he was right after me, and I didn’t think I made much noise.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading But he was right after me, and I didn’t think I made much noise.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading “I got away without the deacon’s seeing me.
a particular situation
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading But he was right after me, and I didn’t think I made much noise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
except if; if not
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Joe Strong, unaware of the exciting events that were taking place in the home of his foster-parents—a home he had deserted for what, to him, were good and sufficient reasons—hurried on down the silent and dark streets of Bedford.
at the time that
From this reading “Well, I got out of that all right,” he said, half aloud, as he stopped, when safely around the corner, to put on his shoes.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “I got away without the deacon’s seeing me.
wizardnounUS /ˈwɪzərd/
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was unusual in such a small town for any one to be out after midnight, unless there were some special occasion, and the young wizard had the place to himself.
