used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
see with attention
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
BLOODYadjectiveUS /ˈblʌdi/
having or covered with or accompanied by blood
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
CAPTUREverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
DISPAIR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He ground his teeth with rage.
an established custom
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
JIM'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
KIDNAPPER'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
PLANKverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading He ground his teeth with rage.
refreshedadjectiveUS /riˈfreʃt/
with restored energy
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
To recall to mind.
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
ROTTENadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːtən/
very bad
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
scratchedverbUS /skrætʃt/
past form of “scratch” — cause friction
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
confined on all sides
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading He ground his teeth with rage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
at the time that
From this reading It was late on the following morning when Bloody Jim awoke.
in or at the place that
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When the objects by which he was surrounded had sufficiently refreshed his memory he began to look about for his prisoner and, behold, she was nowhere to be seen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head with a vacant stare, for he did not at first remember where he was.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading THE KIDNAPPER'S SURPRISE--ON THE WRONG TRACK--BLOODY JIM'S CAPTURE--THE POWER OF HABIT--DISPAIR--THE ROTTEN PLANK.
