Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

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

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

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

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

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

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

the act of discovering something

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

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

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

the force of workers available

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

according to the clock

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

on one occasion

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

and nothing more

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

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

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

release, as from one's grip

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

a person who rescues you from harm or danger

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

express in words

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

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

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

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

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

in or at that place or location

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading IN THE DARK Better men than they might have quailed in such a predicament.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

under the level of the ground

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

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

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

in or at the place that

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It was a combination which brought to them very mixed emotions.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading Black Whiskers, should he be their rescuer might at once assume an entirely different role--would most likely do so, in fact.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Here they were, at ten o'clock at night, shut in an underground passage that led heaven only knew where, and with, to say the least of it, small chance of escape.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They might stay there all night, but the morning would probably bring release and--discovery.