used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
BiffnounUS /bɪf/
(boxing) a blow with the fist
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
CiphernounUS /ˈsaɪ.fər/
A secret or disguised way of writing; a code used to conceal ancient secrets.
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
fugitivenounUS /ˈfjuːdʒətɪv/
someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
Hanleigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
hasteningverbUS /ˈheɪsənɪŋ/
-ing form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
Hooper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
ice-boats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
mainlandnounUS /ˈmeɪnlænd/
the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsula
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
come together
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
MortonnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
having a point
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
posthaste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
SolvedadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Cipher Solved Hanleigh made good his escape.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By the time they reached the cabin, further pursuit was out of the question.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
we'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
which person or people
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
widelyadverbUS /ˈwaɪdli/
to a great degree
From this reading Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, who were widely separated at the time, heard the rifle shots and returned posthaste to the cabin, but they did not meet the fugitive.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Looking out the window, Frank pointed to a dark figure hastening across the ice toward the mainland.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “By the time we got one of the ice-boats out, he would be on the shore, and we’d never find him there,” he said.
