used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN OFFER OF LIBERTY.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading Patsy obeyed without asking why.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
the two together, not just one
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
deceivedverbUS /dɪˈsiːvd/
past form of “deceive” — be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
an opposing military force
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading “Pull into the reeds, Patsy!” he whispered hurriedly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Pull into the reeds, Patsy!” he whispered hurriedly.
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 famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading AN OFFER OF LIBERTY.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
a particular point in time
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Patsy obeyed without asking why.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN OFFER OF LIBERTY.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading AN OFFER OF LIBERTY.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
PatsynounUS /ˈpætsi/
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading “Pull into the reeds, Patsy!” he whispered hurriedly.
reedsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading “Pull into the reeds, Patsy!” he whispered hurriedly.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The famous detective knew by experience that the time to expect a hostile surprise was the moment when everything seemed safe, and he was not deceived by the apparent serenity around him.
look attentively
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
at the time that
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “Pull into the reeds, Patsy!” he whispered hurriedly.
which person or people
From this reading When Nick Carter and Patsy began to row toward the back of the warehouse, both were on the alert for any enemy who might be on the watch.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Patsy obeyed without asking why.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Patsy obeyed without asking why.
