used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SAD SIGHT.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
put or send forth
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
placed crosswise
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
with resolute determination
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
made afraid
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
brought together in one place
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
lad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
set down according to a plan
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
the act of departing
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading MRS.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
policemannounUS /pəˈliːsmən/
a member of a police force
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
principallyadverbUS /ˈprɪnsɪpli/
for the most part
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
with speed
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading A SAD SIGHT.
SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
SHAFTO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
Shafto's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knot of people, principally the inhabitants of the alley, gathered round quickly, and Mrs. Shafto's rosy face grew pale and frightened.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading A SAD SIGHT.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
at the time that
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
which person or people
From this reading SHAFTO and Sandy were leaving the alley, disappointed and cast down, when a policeman, who seemed to be lying in wait for them, crossed the street, and laid his hand firmly on the lad's shoulder.
writhedadjectiveUS /rɪθd/
twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)
From this reading Sandy writhed and struggled, but he could not set himself free from the strong grip.
