used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
rid of obstructions
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
hogsheadnoun
a British unit of capacity for alcoholic beverages
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
HucknounUS /hʌk/
toweling consisting of coarse absorbent cotton or linen fabric
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.
keysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.
maow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
resemblingverbUS /rɪˈzembəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
move stealthily
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
SpaniardnounUS /ˈspænjərd/
a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.
sugarnounUS /ˈʃʊɡər/
a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
tavernnounUS /ˈtævərn/
a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
male cat
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
look attentively
From this reading But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.
whereupon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.
