Chapter XIX · Two Guests from Chicago

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

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

later than; following

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

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

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

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

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

(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 “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

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

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

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

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

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

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

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

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

an occurrence of something

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

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

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

the act of acquiring something

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

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

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

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

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

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

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

moving to the inside of something

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

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

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

the force of workers available

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

-ing form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

not one, and not any

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

precisely, exactly

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

express in words

From this reading “I can do that, all right,” Case hastened to say, motioning to Alex to keep still.

hit with a missile from a weapon

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

not in physical motion

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

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

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”

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

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

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

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “They had as fair a chance to do the shooting as we did, and they are none too good to shoot a man in the back!”

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

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

which person or people

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading “But Alex’s gun is the one that did the work,” King explained, still smiling, “and he came out of the house, an instant after the man fell, with it, still smoking, in his hand!

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading “Why does it look worse for us than for the two men who were in the house with us?” asked Clay.

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

From this reading You’ll have to account for the gun getting away from him, and then back into his hand the next instant!”