used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading “What time is it, anyway?” breathed Joe.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That youth had awakened at last.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading That youth had awakened at last.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
uttered without voice
From this reading “What time is it, anyway?” breathed Joe.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading That had brought out Joe’s question.
deliberatingverbUS /dɪˈlɪbəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “deliberate” — think about carefully; weigh
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That youth had awakened at last.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
ten 10s
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What time is it, anyway?” breathed Joe.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What time is it, anyway?” breathed Joe.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What time is it, anyway?” breathed Joe.
Joe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That had brought out Joe’s question.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
immediately past
From this reading That youth had awakened at last.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That had brought out Joe’s question.
pipe-bowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading That had brought out Joe’s question.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
not in physical motion
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That youth had awakened at last.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “What time is it, anyway?” breathed Joe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
male cat
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
watchersnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃərz/
plural of “watcher” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What time is it, anyway?” breathed Joe.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading He and Tom were discussing in whispers what it was best to do.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading While they were still deliberating, a scraping as though of a knife in a pipe-bowl, not a hundred yards away, had told them that watchers were still about.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading That youth had awakened at last.
