used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
(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 “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The picture swung back to disclose a cleverly hidden safe.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
chuckledverbUS /ˈtʃʌkəld/
past form of “chuckle” — laugh quietly or with restraint
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
cleverlyadverbUS /ˈklevərli/
in a clever manner
From this reading The picture swung back to disclose a cleverly hidden safe.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading “Now, if only I haven’t forgotten the combination.”
cordsnounUS /kɔːrdz/
cotton trousers made of corduroy cloth
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
discloseverbUS /dɪˈskloʊz/
make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading The picture swung back to disclose a cleverly hidden safe.
EnidnounUS /ˈiːnɪd/
a town in north central Oklahoma
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading “Now, if only I haven’t forgotten the combination.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
coins made of gold
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, if only I haven’t forgotten the combination.”
not accessible to view
From this reading The picture swung back to disclose a cleverly hidden safe.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Now, if only I haven’t forgotten the combination.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
jerkverbUS /dʒɜːrk/
pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
a room where books are kept
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now, if only I haven’t forgotten the combination.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
and nothing more
From this reading “Now, if only I haven’t forgotten the combination.”
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
RexnounUS /reks/
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading The picture swung back to disclose a cleverly hidden safe.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The picture swung back to disclose a cleverly hidden safe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the surprise of Madge and Rex, she gave one of the gold cords a sharp jerk.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I guess those thieves weren’t so clever after all,” she chuckled.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the library, Enid paused before a large picture which hung from silken cords on the wall.
