Chapter XXX · Dick Encounters the “Ghost”

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

From this reading He resolved, then and there, never to become a detective.

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

(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 When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

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

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

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

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He resolved, then and there, never to become a detective.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

like the light sharp ringing sound of glasses being tapped

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

becoming infected

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading He resolved, then and there, never to become a detective.

an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

someone who is a detective

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

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

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

a large structure at an airport where aircraft can be stored and maintained

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

only a very short time before

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

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

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

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

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

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

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

stopping and starting at irregular intervals

From this reading But the shrinking of metal had made intermittent noises, sharp and not repeated.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

fasten with a lock

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

an uneasy psychological state

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

not any; not one

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading But the shrinking of metal had made intermittent noises, sharp and not repeated.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But the shrinking of metal had made intermittent noises, sharp and not repeated.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

and nothing more

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

go across or through

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

show a response or a reaction to something

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

recurring again and again

From this reading But the shrinking of metal had made intermittent noises, sharp and not repeated.

determined

From this reading He resolved, then and there, never to become a detective.

inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

cause friction

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading But the shrinking of metal had made intermittent noises, sharp and not repeated.

process or result of becoming less or smaller

From this reading But the shrinking of metal had made intermittent noises, sharp and not repeated.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

past form of “subject” — cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

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

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He resolved, then and there, never to become a detective.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He resolved, then and there, never to become a detective.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

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

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

hard to endure

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

close enough to be walked to

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

the sensation caused by heat energy

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

at the time that

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Countless times his nerves had been pulled by sounds which turned out on second thought to be only the contracting of the hot metal, subjected to the sun all day, as the evening breeze robbed it of its warmth.

ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

in the company of; together with

From this reading When Dick had tried crouching, sitting on his heels, walking and every other device he could think of to end the interminable difficulties of trying to pass time with nothing to do and nothing under him but the hard cement hangar floor, he began to wish he had never met Jeff or gotten into the adventure at all.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.

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

From this reading No wonder that he failed to react to a slight clinking, hardly more than would be made by the scratch of wire in a lock.