used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from Portland."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
Borstalnoun
formerly a British reform school for youths considered too young to send to prison
From this reading "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from Portland."
a youthful male person
From this reading "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from Portland."
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
Can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from Portland."
Findlay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
fore-hatch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from Portland."
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
GrahamnounUS /ˈɡreɪəm/
United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
GreeneradjectiveUS /ˈɡriːnər/
comparative of “green” — of the color between blue and yellow in the color spectrum; similar to the color of fresh grass
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
GreeningnounUS /ˈɡriːnɪŋ/
the phenomenon of vitality and freshness being restored
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
Let's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
by chance
From this reading "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from Portland."
PortlandnounUS /ˈpɔːrtlənd/
freshwater port and largest city in Oregon; located in northwestern Oregon on the Willamette River which divides the city into east and west sections; renowned for its beautiful natural setting among the mountains
From this reading "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from Portland."
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading "Let's hope it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
express in words
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
term of address for a man
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly.
TablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
trionounUS /ˈtriːoʊ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Tables Turned "What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?" asked Findlay.
