used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THREE IN A TRAP.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
Archibald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "King!" gasped Townsend, as soon as he could speak; "and Ferral!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
confined by bonds
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
cordsnounUS /kɔːrdz/
cotton trousers made of corduroy cloth
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
Ferral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "King!" gasped Townsend, as soon as he could speak; "and Ferral!
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
gagverbUS /ɡæɡ/
prevent from speaking out
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "King!" gasped Townsend, as soon as he could speak; "and Ferral!
Grampusnoun
predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "King!" gasped Townsend, as soon as he could speak; "and Ferral!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THREE IN A TRAP.
JrnounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
a son who has the same first name as his father
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading "King!" gasped Townsend, as soon as he could speak; "and Ferral!
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
matchlight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
Nemo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
not any; not one
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
in other respects or ways
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
in the near future
From this reading "King!" gasped Townsend, as soon as he could speak; "and Ferral!
express in speech
From this reading "King!" gasped Townsend, as soon as he could speak; "and Ferral!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THREE IN A TRAP.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
TownsendnounUS /ˈtaʊnzənd/
United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)
From this reading The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
TRAPnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading THREE IN A TRAP.
unloosenverb
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The matchlight was feeble, but there could be no mistake.
(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 The boys knew Archibald Townsend, otherwise Captain Nemo, Jr., of the _Grampus_, well.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Both of them crept forward, and while Dick groped about with his hands to unloosen the cords that bound the prisoner, Matt removed the gag.
