used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
BendernounUS /ˈbendər/
a tool for bending
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
ciphernounUS /ˈsaɪ.fər/
A secret or disguised way of writing; a code used to conceal ancient secrets.
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
Hanleigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
HardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
Hardy'snounUS /ˈhɑːrdiz/
possessive form of “hardy” — United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
maraudernounUS /mərˈɔːdər/
someone who attacks in search of booty
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
not any; not one
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
notebooknounUS /ˈnoʊtbʊk/
a book with blank pages for recording notes or memoranda
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
postagenounUS /ˈpoʊstədʒ/
the charge for mailing something
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
predictionsnounUS /priˈdɪkʃənz/
plural of “prediction” — the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
recedingnounUS /rɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
a slow or gradual disappearance
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
Sparewell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
stampverbUS /stæmp/
walk heavily
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
not in physical motion
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading The mystery surrounding Hanleigh, John Sparewell, and the Bender postage stamp collection was gradually receding into the background.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But to the Hardy boys it still remained a matter of great concern, especially to Frank.
hard to endure
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
uneventfullyadverb
in an uneventful manner
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading Each evening he sat down and puzzled over the strange cipher, vainly trying to solve the mystery it presented.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No one had appeared in the vicinity of the rocks, for the boys examined the place carefully in search of footprints and the snow was still unbroken.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In spite of Joe Hardy’s predictions that the marauder would be back for his notebook, that afternoon and the next day passed uneventfully on Cabin Island.
