adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
AcrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
burglarsnounUS /ˈbɜːrɡlərz/
plural of “burglar” — a thief who enters a building with intent to steal
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
bushnounUS /bʊʃ/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
Clive's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
Dawson'snounUS /ˈdɔːsənz/
possessive form of “dawson” — a town in northwestern Canada in the Yukon on the Yukon River; a boom town around 1900 when gold was discovered in the Klondike
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
deadlyadjectiveUS /ˈdedli/
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
Deede
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
distinguishableadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
capable of being perceived as different or distinct
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
Dunn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
kneesnounUS /niːz/
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
leftnounUS /left/
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 On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
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 He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
restverbUS /rest/
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading On his left another shadow showed, distinguishable in the night only because it moved.
skylinenounUS /ˈskaɪlaɪn/
the outline of objects seen against the sky
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
slenderadjectiveUS /ˈslendər/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
slippedverbUS /slɪpt/
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
suspectedadjectiveUS /səˈspektɪd/
believed likely
From this reading It would be safe and easy--suspected burglars in a garden at midnight--nothing could be said.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading He melted away into the darkness as he spoke, and through the night he slipped, one shadow more amongst many, from tree to bush, from bush to tree.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In a moment both shadows were gone, secret and deadly in the dark, and Dunn was very sure that Clive's life and his own both hung upon a slender chance, for if either of them was discovered the leaping bullet would do the rest.
yardnounUS /jɑːrd/
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Across a patch of open grass he crawled on his hands and knees; and once lay flat on his face when against the skyline he saw a figure he was sure was Deede Dawson's creep by a yard or two on his right hand.
