used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We can’t go up, and we can’t go down—yet.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading “Quick, now!” the master criminal instructed his men.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We can’t go up, and we can’t go down—yet.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
instructedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading “Quick, now!” the master criminal instructed his men.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading “Quick, now!” the master criminal instructed his men.
the force of workers available
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
nostrilsnounUS /ˈnɑːstrəlz/
plural of “nostril” — either one of the two external openings to the nasal cavity in the nose
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Quick, now!” the master criminal instructed his men.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “Quick, now!” the master criminal instructed his men.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
spongeverbUS /spʌndʒ/
wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
express a supposition
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
confined on all sides
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
two times
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We can’t go up, and we can’t go down—yet.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I don’t know how it happens that the police came down on us, but they’re here, and I suppose the block is surrounded.
vapornounUS /ˈveɪpər/
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading As he ceased speaking, the Black Star turned suddenly and gave his prisoner a shot from the vapor gun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We can’t go up, and we can’t go down—yet.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading His own men evidently had guessed what was coming, for they turned their faces away, and each held a small sponge to his nostrils, for in that close space the vapor seemed twice as heavy.
but in spite of that
From this reading We can’t go up, and we can’t go down—yet.
