used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
a line of approach
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
baitverbUS /beɪt/
harass with persistent criticism or carping
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
BatnounUS /bæt/
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading His hands in his ragged pockets clenched.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
creditedadjectiveUS /ˈkredətəd/
(usually followed by “to”) given credit for
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
wanted intensely
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
devil'snounUS /ˈdevəlz/
possessive form of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
increase twofold
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
FifthnounUS /fɪfθ/
a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
HALFPAST
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His hands in his ragged pockets clenched.
headingnounUS /ˈhedɪŋ/
a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
indecision in speech or action
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His hands in his ragged pockets clenched.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His hands in his ragged pockets clenched.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
ingenuitynounUS /ˌɪndʒəˈnuːətiː/
the power of creative imagination
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
instant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading His hands in his ragged pockets clenched.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading His hands in his ragged pockets clenched.
SealverbUS /siːl/
make tight; secure against leakage
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, why shouldn't they!
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
slouchingverbUS /ˈslaʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “slouch” — assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
make square
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
swallowedverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊd/
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
theftnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Well, why shouldn't they!
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading AT HALFPAST ONE Larry the Bat closed the outer door noiselessly behind him, slipped through the vestibule--and, an instant later, was slouching along Fifth Avenue, heading back toward Washington Square.
(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 It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Well, why shouldn't they!
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The police had swallowed the bait, jumped to the inevitable conclusion desired, and credited the Gray Seal with the double crime of theft and murder without an instant's hesitation.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It had been well worked out--with a devil's ingenuity.
