Chapter IX · An Unwelcome Guest

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

later than; following

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

next to; at the side of

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

a youthful male person

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

of short duration or distance

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table

From this reading He was recognized as Hoke Butler, a member of the Stag Patrol.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was recognized as Hoke Butler, a member of the Stag Patrol.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

the sound of laughing

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading He was recognized as Hoke Butler, a member of the Stag Patrol.

device for converting sound waves into electrical energy

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

of lesser importance or stature or rank

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

a detachment used for security or reconnaissance

From this reading He was recognized as Hoke Butler, a member of the Stag Patrol.

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading He was recognized as Hoke Butler, a member of the Stag Patrol.

a result

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

attend a dance or a party without a female companion

From this reading He was recognized as Hoke Butler, a member of the Stag Patrol.

the light of the stars

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

a group of soldiers

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Most of the other Boy Scouts had gone inside for the night, though the murmur of voices showed the majority were awake.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

during the time that

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A tall form loomed to view in the starlight, and coming up the steps sat down beside Mike with a greeting to all three.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading What may be called a minor mystery was settled within a few minutes after Alvin, Chester and Mike came out of the wood and sat down for a brief while on the porch.

a young person of either sex

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.

suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh

From this reading The laugh of Scout Master Hall was heard in response to some jest, he being, as has been said, as much of a youngster as the most youthful of the troop.