used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
accomplishverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/
put in effect
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
(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 The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading “Five minutes to twelve,” Bob replied.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
characterized by great determination
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading “Five minutes to twelve,” Bob replied.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHERE IS JACK?
Isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
a small worthless amount
From this reading WHERE IS JACK?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
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 boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading “Five minutes to twelve,” Bob replied.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
napnounUS /næp/
a period of time spent sleeping
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Five minutes to twelve,” Bob replied.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Isn’t it about time for the show to start?”
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading “Five minutes to twelve,” Bob replied.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The boys had taken a long nap after dinner as they had determined to stay awake all night in an effort to accomplish something toward clearing up the mystery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
in or at the place that
From this reading WHERE IS JACK?
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
which person or people
From this reading Since dark they had been sitting in the little cabin not speaking above a whisper and it was Jack who asked the question.
