used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
ChicknounUS /tʃɪk/
young bird especially of domestic fowl
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
let fall to the ground
From this reading THE DROP SHOT.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
a long fixed look
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
greenswardnoun
surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
set afire or burning
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
and nothing more
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
PatsynounUS /ˈpætsi/
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
porte-cochère
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading THE DROP SHOT.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DROP SHOT.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Though the curtains had been lowered, a thread of bright light under one of them told that a view of the room could easily be obtained.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Chick and Patsy crept near enough to peer in, and the scene that met their gaze was about what they expected.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading They moved noiselessly over the damp greensward, like shadows only a little darker than the darkness, and picked their way toward two lighted windows back of the porte-cochère.
woodedadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdɪd/
covered with growing trees and bushes etc
From this reading Chick Carter led the way across one side of the wooded estate, closely followed by Patsy and the two headquarters’ detectives.
