used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
amateurishadjectiveUS /ˈæmətʃɜːrɪʃ/
lacking professional skill or expertise
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
Bayliss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
BERT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
Danny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom glanced at Danny Grin, smiling quietly.
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
someone who is a detective
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
DODGEverbUS /dɑːdʒ/
make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
dolefuladjectiveUS /ˈdoʊlfəl/
filled with or evoking sadness
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
FRIGHTFULadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtfəl/
provoking horror
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Tom glanced at Danny Grin, smiling quietly.
GrinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Tom glanced at Danny Grin, smiling quietly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
HEARSverbUS /hiːrz/
third-person singular of “hear” — perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
imitationnounUS /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
immediately past
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
long-drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
information about recent and important events
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
a brief written record
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed.
with low volume
From this reading Tom glanced at Danny Grin, smiling quietly.
screechnounUS /skriːtʃ/
a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Tom glanced at Danny Grin, smiling quietly.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
male cat
From this reading Tom glanced at Danny Grin, smiling quietly.
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
untrainedadjectiveUS /ənˈtreɪnd/
not disciplined or conditioned or made adept by training
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
(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 was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears.
