Chapter VIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Worth almost a dime a dozen.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

made in or typical of earlier times and valued for its age

From this reading “Valuable antique—very valuable.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

-ing form of “cock” — tilt or slant to one side

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

a United States coin worth one tenth of a dollar

From this reading Worth almost a dime a dozen.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading Worth almost a dime a dozen.

in a gradual manner

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

with strained or eager attention

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

possessive form of “mom” — informal terms for a mother

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

extremely wicked

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

reading carefully with intent to remember

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading He deposited Mom’s jewel box on a table and patted it gently.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

except if; if not

From this reading Unless, of course,” he added, cocking his head on one side and studying the box intently, “it is instead an ingenious copy of a valuable antique, made by some nefarious criminal.”

having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange

From this reading “Valuable antique—very valuable.

precisely as stated

From this reading “Valuable antique—very valuable.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A PACKAGE CHANGES HANDS “Must handle this with great care,” Sandy said a little later as the boys let themselves into the Holt apartment.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading Worth almost a dime a dozen.