used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The door of the deck house was closed.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The door of the deck house was closed.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door of the deck house was closed.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
ensignnounUS /ˈensən/
a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
intense and profound fear
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The door of the deck house was closed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
interjectionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈdʒekʃən/
an abrupt emphatic exclamation expressing emotion
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Hardly had he done so before he fell back with a sharp exclamation.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The door of the deck house was closed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The next instant the boys echoed his interjection with a tone in which horror mingled with surprise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But the ensign opened it without difficulty, and with the boys pressing close on his heels he entered the place.
