used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
abductorsnounUS /æbˈdʌktərz/
plural of “abductor” — someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
Alec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
BudnounUS /bʌd/
a partially opened flower
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
delayingverbUS /dɪˈleɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “delay” — cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
the act of departing
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
engagingadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ/
attracting or delighting
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
every person
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
exitnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
only a very short time before
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
and nothing more
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
immediately past
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
phalanxnounUS /ˈfeɪlæŋks/
any of the bones of the fingers or toes
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
SherwoodnounUS /ˈʃɜːrwʊd/
United States playwright (1896-1955)
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
smithynoun
a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
male cat
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
trionounUS /ˈtriːoʊ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
trippedverbUS /trɪpt/
inflected form of “trip” — miss a step and fall or nearly fall
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
hard to endure
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ralph was alongside as he turned the corner of the old smithy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were Alec and Bud and big Tom Sherwood, and the trio presented quite a formidable phalanx.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The other scouts had hardly known what to do, although several of the most active seemed to be in motion, headed for the exit of the old house.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
which person or people
From this reading They turned the corner just in time to cut off the flight of the last of the abductors, who had tripped and fallen inside the room, thus delaying his departure for a few seconds.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading “Get around to the door, everybody; they’re trying to escape!” shouted Hugh, as he whirled away from the window that had been engaging his attention.
