used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The back door opened readily enough.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
the act of breaking something
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The back door opened readily enough.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The back door opened readily enough.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
set up or found
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
a particular point in time
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
absolutely essential
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
not any; not one
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The back door opened readily enough.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
PLANNINGnounUS /ˈplænɪŋ/
an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
without much difficulty
From this reading The back door opened readily enough.
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading The boys stepped into the rude kitchen and closed the door, listening for a moment in the silence.
not in physical motion
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A meal of sorts was still spread on the plain deal table, but it had evidently been there for some days.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
a message informing of danger
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PLANNING THE ESCAPE No breaking in was found necessary.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The place seemed to have been deserted by its inhabitants without any preparation or warning.
