used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was now almost to the bottom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
the lower side of anything
From this reading He was now almost to the bottom.
a youthful male person
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
start firing a weapon
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Then he swung himself from the bottom landing of the fire escape and dropped to the ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was now almost to the bottom.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then he swung himself from the bottom landing of the fire escape and dropped to the ground.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
JOLLYadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire 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 "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
Merrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was now almost to the bottom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
SCHOOLMATESnounUS /ˈskuːlmeɪts/
plural of “schoolmate” — an acquaintance that you go to school with
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
swindlernounUS /ˈswɪndələr/
a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Then he swung himself from the bottom landing of the fire escape and dropped to the ground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he swung himself from the bottom landing of the fire escape and dropped to the ground.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
male cat
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
the topmost one of two
From this reading JOLLY OLD SCHOOLMATES Evidently the swindler had dropped from the roof to the upper landing of the fire escape.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading "Stop!" cried Tom, but he knew the command was a useless one.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading At the sound of his voice Merrick looked up and muttered something the boy could not catch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was now almost to the bottom.
