used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
cabmannoun
someone who drives a taxi for a living
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
clamberedverbUS /ˈklæmbərd/
past form of “clamber” — climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
not accessible to view
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
danglingnounUS /ˈdæŋɡəlɪŋ/
the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
immediately past
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading I Got out at Last by Playing a Game on Her.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
Scutts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
staggeringadjectiveUS /ˈstæɡərɪŋ/
so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
supportingadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪŋ/
furnishing support and encouragement
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
in the direction of
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading Mrs. Scutts, concealed behind the curtain, gazed at the cab in uneasy amazement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A stranger was the first to alight, and, with his back towards Mrs. Scutts, seemed to be struggling with something in the cab.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
belonging to which person
From this reading He placed a dangling hand about his neck and, staggering under the weight, reeled backwards supporting Mr. Scutts, whose other arm was round the neck of a third man.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cabman clambered down from the box and, opening the door, stood by with his hands extended ready for any help that might be needed.
![Night watches [complete]](/static/images/covers-gen/night-watches-complete.webp)