used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
AaronnounUS /ˈerən/
United States professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934)
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
amateurnounUS /ˈæmətɜːr/
someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading The white, close-cropped beard told him that.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
behavedverbUS /bɪˈheɪvd/
past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
close-cropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The white, close-cropped beard told him that.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
Dennison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
divisible by two
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
a man of refinement
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The white, close-cropped beard told him that.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
engage in
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
a form of address for a man
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
photographersnounUS /fəˈtɑːɡrəfərz/
plural of “photographer” — someone who takes photographs professionally
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
cut with a saw
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
sorelyadverbUS /ˈsɔːrli/
to a great degree
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
dependable
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
strenuousadjectiveUS /ˈstrenjuːəs/
characterized by or performed with much energy or force
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
a special situation
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
TIMBERnounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The white, close-cropped beard told him that.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
the act of using
From this reading Then he saw that the old gentleman held a stout cane in his hand, which he had half raised as though sorely tempted to make strenuous use of it upon the backs of these two ambitious amateur photographers.
someone who visits
From this reading The first thing Frank settled in his mind was that their visitor of the preceding night had been Aaron Dennison.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN THE BIG TIMBER Of course it was Mr. Dennison himself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Frank could easily have guessed as much from the manner in which the other behaved, even had he not spoken of the building as "my house."
a Caucasian
From this reading The white, close-cropped beard told him that.
