used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
towards the shore from the water
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
constablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Yes; let me know the worst."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Yes; let me know the worst."
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
LukenounUS /luːk/
(New Testament) the Apostle closely associated with St. Paul and traditionally assumed to be the author of the third Gospel
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Yes; let me know the worst."
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
go across or through
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
policemannounUS /pəˈliːsmən/
a member of a police force
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
respectfullyadverbUS /rɪˈspektfəli/
in a respectful manner
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
express in speech
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
move hurridly
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
timingnounUS /ˈtaɪmɪŋ/
the time when something happens
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
trotverbUS /trɑːt/
run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Uncle Luke shook his head and began to descend the slope, timing his speed so as to reach the harbour steps at the same time as the boat.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Am I to speak plainly, sir?" said the detective in a low voice.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The man stepped ashore, and gave an order or two which sent a constable off at a trot, and another policeman took his post at the head of the steps, to keep the way down to the boat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a crowd waiting, but the people parted respectfully to allow the old man and his companion to pass, and the next minute Uncle Luke was questioning the sergeant with his eyes.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading "Yes; let me know the worst."
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes; let me know the worst."
