used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A few facts about the unknown creature were very apparent.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
in actual fact
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
agileadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəl/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
agilitynounUS /əˈdʒɪləti/
the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading A few facts about the unknown creature were very apparent.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
assailantnounUS /əˈseɪlənt/
someone who attacks
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
bicyclenounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
conduceverb
be conducive to
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading A few facts about the unknown creature were very apparent.
creature's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
cunningadjectiveUS /ˈkʌnɪŋ/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
deepeningnounUS /ˈdiːpənɪŋ/
a process of becoming deeper and more profound
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
deprivedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpraɪvd/
marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
DWELTverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
an opposing military force
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
enmitynounUS /ˈenməti/
a state of deep-seated ill-will
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
divisible by two
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading A few facts about the unknown creature were very apparent.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few facts about the unknown creature were very apparent.
firearmsnounUS /ˈfaɪərɑːrmz/
plural of “firearm” — a portable gun
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
FirstlyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrstli/
before anything else
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
your parents
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
fourthlyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrθli/
in the fourth place
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
only a very short time before
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
identitynounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/
the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
intricaciesnounUS /ˈɪntrəkəsiz/
plural of “intricacy” — marked by elaborately complex detail
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
immediately past
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
lastlyadverbUS /ˈlæstli/
the item at the end
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
Laurence's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
something that is lost
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
not any; not one
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
come into possession of
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
offensiveadjectiveUS /əˈfensɪv/
violating or tending to violate or offend against
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
and nothing more
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
recogniseverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
show approval or appreciation of
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
recoursenounUS /ˈriːkɔːrs/
act of turning to for assistance
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
unusual or striking
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
secondlyadverbUS /ˈsekəndli/
in the second place
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
sleeplessadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpləs/
experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
in a strange manner
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
theftnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
thirdlyadverbUS /ˈθɜːrdli/
in the third place
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
not known
From this reading A few facts about the unknown creature were very apparent.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
the act of using
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
precisely as stated
From this reading A few facts about the unknown creature were very apparent.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mystery was deepening in an alarming fashion, and its intricacies were such as did not conduce to quiet sleep.
at the time that
From this reading THE SILENT HOUSE AND THE FOLKS THAT DWELT THERE A sleepless night was Laurence's portion when, tired out, he flung himself upon his bed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That he had at last actually encountered his father's enemy he was quite convinced, but he was no nearer being able to account for the strange creature's enmity or even to recognise its identity than before he had met with this last adventure.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
but in spite of that
From this reading Firstly, it was strangely agile and cunning; secondly, its voice was as remarkable as its agility, which was hardly human; thirdly, it was in possession of a bicycle, and yet was unable to obtain food and clothing without having recourse to theft; fourthly, it was of peculiarly small stature for a man; and lastly, it was able to use firearms, but with the loss of the pistol it had probably been deprived of its only offensive weapon, since it had not ventured to attack its assailant in the barn.
