used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “Let’s walk around it,” said Townsend.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
clankingadjectiveUS /ˈklæŋkɪŋ/
having a hard nonresonant metallic sound
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
deceptionnounUS /dɪˈsepʃən/
a misleading falsehood
From this reading There was no deception there—it was locked _tight_.
dumbfoundedadjectiveUS /ˈdʌmfaʊndɪd/
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Townsend glanced in through a side window.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
heartlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrtləs/
lacking in feeling or pity or warmth
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Townsend glanced in through a side window.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
Let's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Let’s walk around it,” said Townsend.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading There was no deception there—it was locked _tight_.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
not any; not one
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
padlocknounUS /ˈpædlɑːk/
a detachable lock; has a hinged shackle that can be passed through the staple of a hasp or the links in a chain and then snapped shut
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
reconnoitered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Let’s walk around it,” said Townsend.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Townsend glanced in through a side window.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
express in speech
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Townsend glanced in through a side window.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading There was no deception there—it was locked _tight_.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
TownsendnounUS /ˈtaʊnzənd/
United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
TOWNSEND'SnounUS /ˈtaʊnzəndz/
possessive form of “townsend” — United States social reformer who proposed an old-age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867-1960)
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading “Let’s walk around it,” said Townsend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TOWNSEND’S MIDDLE NAME For a full half minute neither spoke and there was no sound but the heartless clanking of the padlock as Townsend shook it.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Townsend glanced in through a side window.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading They reconnoitered about the little wooden building almost too dumbfounded to speak.
