used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Were you walking about in the night?"
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
(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 In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
attic-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
breakfast-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
BrownienounUS /ˈbraʊni/
a junior Girl Scout
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This time Jan had a story to tell, a story of _noise_.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
JannounUS /dʒæn/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading This time Jan had a story to tell, a story of _noise_.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
engage in
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
mysteriesnounUS /ˈmɪstəriz/
plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
of an obscure nature
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading This time Jan had a story to tell, a story of _noise_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading This time Jan had a story to tell, a story of _noise_.
express in words
From this reading This time Jan had a story to tell, a story of _noise_.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time Jan had a story to tell, a story of _noise_.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This time Jan had a story to tell, a story of _noise_.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading In spite of all the mysteries, however, and there certainly seemed to be a good many, the boys slept like tops in their attic-room that night.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading "Were you walking about in the night?"
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading "A most peculiar noise, from the wall I think it was, or from the floor, Brownie, but I couldn't make out," she announced at breakfast-time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
(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 Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Were you walking about in the night?"
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
but in spite of that
From this reading Perhaps it was as well "for their brains' sake," as Peter remarked, for they woke next morning to yet another mysterious affair.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Were you walking about in the night?"
