used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
agilitynounUS /əˈdʒɪləti/
the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
(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 The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
CopperheadnounUS /ˈkɑːpərhed/
common coppery brown pit viper of upland eastern United States
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
dapperadjectiveUS /ˈdæpər/
marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Suddenly his hand darted down toward the sleeping man’s pocket.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
Denis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
DoomverbUS /duːm/
decree or designate beforehand
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Suddenly his hand darted down toward the sleeping man’s pocket.
Etc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Hal leaped up in a flash, grasping the little man’s pudgy wrist.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
Gordon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading Hal leaped up in a flash, grasping the little man’s pudgy wrist.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
half-closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Suddenly his hand darted down toward the sleeping man’s pocket.
HermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
HUGH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
Keen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Hal leaped up in a flash, grasping the little man’s pudgy wrist.
lidsnounUS /lɪdz/
plural of “lid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
LLOYDnounUS /lɔɪd/
United States comic actor in silent films; he used physical danger as a source of comedy (1893-1971)
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Suddenly his hand darted down toward the sleeping man’s pocket.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Suddenly his hand darted down toward the sleeping man’s pocket.
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
pudgyadjectiveUS /ˈpʌdʒi/
short and plump
From this reading Hal leaped up in a flash, grasping the little man’s pudgy wrist.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Suddenly his hand darted down toward the sleeping man’s pocket.
slinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
soundlesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
StarkadjectiveUS /stɑːrk/
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly his hand darted down toward the sleeping man’s pocket.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading By HUGH LLOYD Author of The Copperhead Trail Mystery The Hermit of Gordon’s Creek The Doom of Stark House, Etc.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Hal leaped up in a flash, grasping the little man’s pudgy wrist.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Hal lay rigid in his deck chair and watched from under half-closed lids.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The dapper little man came toward them soundlessly and approached Denis Keen’s chair with all the slinking agility of a cat.
wristnounUS /rɪst/
a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading Hal leaped up in a flash, grasping the little man’s pudgy wrist.
