used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
darkestadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkəst/
superlative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
fustyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌstiː/
stale and unclean smelling
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But he darted back, crouching in the darkest corner of the fusty cab.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
express in words
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
an instance of visual perception
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
push forcefully
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
tipnounUS /tɪp/
the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading At a little distance, watching the gate, he had caught sight of a man.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So much were they on the tip of his tongue that he almost believed he had said them.
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 As they neared the empty house, Peter was about to thrust his head out of the window.
the words that are spoken
From this reading He had the words on the tip of his tongue to say, “Stop here, Mr. Grace.”
