used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
balefullyadverb
in a baleful manner
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
fearless and daring
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
clewnoun
a ball of yarn or cord or thread
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
without deviation
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
earshotnounUS /ˈɪrʃɑːt/
the range within which a voice can be heard
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
one or the other of two
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
at any time
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
opinion or judgment
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
gargoylenounUS /ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/
a spout that terminates in a grotesquely carved figure of a person or animal
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
gendarmes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
glistenedverbUS /ˈɡlɪsənd/
past form of “glisten” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
destroyed or killed
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
gruesomeadjectiveUS /ˈɡruːsəm/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
heroesnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
not accessible to view
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
indecisionnounUS /ˌɪndɪˈsɪʒən/
doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
lamp-post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
localitynounUS /loʊˈkæləti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
a particular point in time
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
patrolnounUS /pəˈtroʊl/
a detachment used for security or reconnaissance
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
regularlyadverbUS /ˈreɡjələrli/
in a regular manner
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
shakyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪki/
inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
snakyadjective
resembling a serpent in form
From this reading In a gargoyle face snaky eyes balefully glistened at the sight of prey.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
a special situation
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
thoroughfarenounUS /ˈθɜːroʊfer/
a public road from one place to another
From this reading If there had ever been any gendarmes bold enough to regularly patrol this gruesome thoroughfare, these heroes were certainly not in evidence now.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
untoprepositionUS /ˈʌntuː/
an old word for “to”
From this reading A bundle of rags huddled in the doorway of one of the shaky old houses took unto itself life and height.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading They must either have gone directly to war or were on guard in some more prosperous locality.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
whereaboutsnounUS /ˈwerəbaʊts/
the general location where something is
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
which person or people
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading The boys, who in a moment of indecision had stopped within earshot of this hideous, hidden thing, were about to resume their way through this wretched street, in the scant hope of finding some clew to their whereabouts under the feeble glow from the dimly distant lamp-post.
