Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

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

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading Suddenly Billy was aware of a shadow looming.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Billy drew back like a turtle to his shell and listened.

past form of “bask” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

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

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

next to; at the side of

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading Suddenly Billy was aware of a shadow looming.

closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Billy drew back like a turtle to his shell and listened.

the organ of sight

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

in a furtive manner

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

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

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

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

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

sing with closed lips

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

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

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

set down according to a plan

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He basked in it like a cat blinking its content.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading Billy drew back like a turtle to his shell and listened.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

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

From this reading Suddenly Billy was aware of a shadow looming.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Suddenly Billy was aware of a shadow looming.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading Suddenly Billy was aware of a shadow looming.

ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading Billy drew back like a turtle to his shell and listened.

with low volume

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

the act of taking something from someone unlawfully

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Suddenly Billy was aware of a shadow looming.

in a swift manner

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

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

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

up to a particular time

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

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

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

create by training and teaching

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

a sweater or jersey with a high close-fitting collar

From this reading Billy drew back like a turtle to his shell and listened.

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

From this reading Suddenly Billy was aware of a shadow looming.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

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

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

the act of creating written works

From this reading The heavy one had laid down his brush and was stealing swiftly, furtively to the door of the station with a weather eye to the agent on his knees beside a big trunk writing something on a check.