used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EXHIBIT OF NERVE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
countingnounUS /ˈkaʊntɪŋ/
the act of counting; reciting numbers in ascending order
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
debateverbUS /dəˈbeɪt/
argue with one another
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Through the opening there the pair disappeared.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
EXHIBITverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill
From this reading AN EXHIBIT OF NERVE.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
footworknounUS /ˈfʊtwɜːrk/
the manner of using the feet
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
full of life and energy
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
NERVEnounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading AN EXHIBIT OF NERVE.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN EXHIBIT OF NERVE.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Through the opening there the pair disappeared.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Through the opening there the pair disappeared.
a course of conduct
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
predicamentnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/
release, as from one's grip
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
Ricker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Through the opening there the pair disappeared.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the opening there the pair disappeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
waryadjectiveUS /ˈweri/
marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The path followed was that across the platform toward the top of the stairway descending to the basement.
watchersnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃərz/
plural of “watcher” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading Ricker and his companion, however, took a route that relieved the wary watchers of the necessity of doing lively footwork to keep out of sight.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first thought then with the boys was to immediately release the prisoner in the counting house from his uncomfortable predicament, but a second thought made this preceding one for debate.
