aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Leonard shook his head and answered:
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Leonard shook his head and answered:
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
BaasnounUS /bɑːz/
South African term for “boss”
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
conceivedverbUS /kənˈsiːvd/
past form of “conceive” — have the idea for
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
the first light of day
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
EXPIATIONnoun
compensation for a wrong
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
FRANCISCO'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Leonard shook his head and answered:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Leonard shook his head and answered:
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
Juanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
LeonardnounUS /ˈlenərd/
United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)
From this reading Leonard shook his head and answered:
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
the force of workers available
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
OtternounUS /ˈɑːtər/
the fur of an otter
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
shinesnounUS /ʃaɪnz/
plural of “shine” — the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Leonard shook his head and answered:
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
except if; if not
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Unless the sun shines at dawn to-morrow, we are dead men.”
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading “Then there is little chance of that, Baas,” groaned Otter, “for the night is as the nights have been for these five weeks.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
at the time that
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading FRANCISCO’S EXPIATION When they had finished their meal, which was about as sad an entertainment as can well be conceived, they began to talk.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you see any hope?” asked Juanna of the other three.
