used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
approximateverbUS /əˈprɑːksəmət/
be close or similar
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
cluesnounUS /kluːz/
plural of “clue” — a slight indication
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
without stop or interruption
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
duckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
enclose with a fence
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
start firing a weapon
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
flittingverbUS /ˈflɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
set up or found
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
indistinctadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
a small worthless amount
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
not one, and not any
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
having a point
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
cut with a saw
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
searchings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
smudgedverbUS /smʌdʒd/
past form of “smudge” — make a smudge on; soil by smudging
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
SPYverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They continued their search for other possible clues but found none.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Searching for footprints, they found many, most of them indistinct and smudged.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In the midst of their searchings, however, Paul looking up thought he saw a flitting shadow duck behind a fence across the street.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading THE SPY The following morning, immediately after breakfast, the three boys met and set off for Water Street.
inflected form of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
in or at the place that
From this reading At the scene of the fire, Jack pointed out the approximate spot where the man had sat and wept.
