used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
react verbally
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
for the reason that
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
bewildermentnounUS /bɪˈwɪldərmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
crossbonesnounUS /ˈkrɔːsboʊnz/
two crossed bones (or a representation of two crossed bones) used as a symbol danger or death
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
declaringverbUS /dɪˈklerɪŋ/
-ing form of “declare” — state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
grufflyadverbUS /ˈɡrʌfli/
in a gruff manner
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
and nothing more
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
set afire or burning
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
skullnounUS /skʌl/
the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
strapnounUS /stræp/
an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading But Small didn’t appear, and Waters, passing the study table, caught sight of a sheet of paper.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading There was no answer and Waters lighted the gas and gazed in bewilderment about the empty apartment.
(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 Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading On it was what was evidently intended for a skull and crossbones, and under that was printed:
in or at the place that
From this reading Then he looked under both beds and in the closet, declaring in a loud voice that Small might as well “come out of that now” because he knew just where he was.
but in spite of that
From this reading “Find that strap yet, Small?” he asked gruffly.
