adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/
at or in the front
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
beachnounUS /biːtʃ/
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
coastnounUS /koʊst/
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
concludedadjectiveUS /kənˈkluːdəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
dancingnounUS /ˈdænsɪŋ/
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənd/
characterized by great determination
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
dropverbUS /drɑːp/
let fall to the ground
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
engagedadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒd/
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
gaggedverbUS /ɡæɡd/
inflected form of “gag” — prevent from speaking out
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
goodsnounUS /ɡʊdz/
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
heronounUS /ˈhɪroʊ/
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
islandnounUS /ˈaɪlənd/
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
lightsnounUS /laɪts/
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
milesnounUS /maɪlz/
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
prisonernounUS /ˈprɪzənər/
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/
release, as from one's grip
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
residentadjectiveUS /ˈrezɪdənt/
living in a particular place
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
ReturningadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
shorenounUS /ʃɔːr/
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
smugglernounUS /ˈsmʌɡlər/
someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
smugglersnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlərz/
plural of “smuggler” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
SpencernounUS /ˈspensər/
English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
stolenounUS /stoʊl/
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
traversedverbUS /ˈtrævərst/
past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading The detective traversed about four miles of coast when, far ahead of him, he saw the glimmer of dancing lights.
unloadingnounUS /ənˈloʊdɪŋ/
the labor of taking a load of something off of or out of a vehicle or ship or container etc.
From this reading Returning to his man Vance made sure that he could not release himself, and then started down to the shore and moved along the beach, hoping to come upon the smugglers engaged in the unloading of their goods.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
Vance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Spencer Vance sprung to his feet, and stood and listened, determined to have the drop on the other man in case of danger, and not again get caught in the position he was when the first smuggler called him to account.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The detective stole after the man, but concluded he was merely a resident of the island who passed by through chance.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The intruder passed on his way without having come upon our hero and his gagged prisoner.
