used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am sure I don't know.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
arightadverb
in an accurate manner
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
CAPTUREverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
Dangler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
someone who is a detective
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am sure I don't know.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he nodded vigorously.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am sure I don't know.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I am sure I don't know.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading Then he nodded vigorously.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
only a very short time before
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I am sure I don't know.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he nodded vigorously.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth to silence him.
male cat
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading Then he nodded vigorously.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could scarcely believe that they had heard aright.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.
