used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
(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 "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
the lower side of anything
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
without doubt or question
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
commentedverbUS /ˈkɑːmentəd/
past form of “comment” — make or write a comment on
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?--CONCLUSION.
without stop or interruption
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
explainsverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnz/
third-person singular of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
come to pass
From this reading WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?--CONCLUSION.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
lighthousenounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?--CONCLUSION.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it did more than that, it showed Sandy that the man approaching them was followed by two or three others.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?--CONCLUSION.
at the time that
From this reading They had reached the bottom, and were about to strike off across the flat beach, when a figure suddenly emerged from the door of the lighthouse.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Well, that explains why the stairway wasn't guarded, all right," commented Sandy, as they continued their way.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?--CONCLUSION.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At the same time, as bad luck would have it, a flash of lightning from the nearing storm revealed the lads' figures clearly.
