Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

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

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

any person at all

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

past form of “appeal” — take a court case to a higher court for review

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

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

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

the act of closing something

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

annoyed and irritable

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

someone who is a detective

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

the act of leaving secretly or without explanation

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

regarded with aversion

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

having the place or position changed

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

plural of “exercise” — the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading He shook his head at once.

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

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

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

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

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

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

immediately past

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

the act of departing

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

according to the clock

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

on one occasion

From this reading He shook his head at once.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

plural of “rick” — a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

someone who leads a wandering unsettled life

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment

From this reading He shook his head at once.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

carry out

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

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

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

a special situation

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

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

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

male cat

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

create by training and teaching

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

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

From this reading "Let us ask around and see if anybody was here when the train came in," suggested Tom.

under normal conditions

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

at the time that

From this reading This train got into Oak Run at one o'clock in the morning, when the station was closed and the platform usually deserted.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.

which person or people

From this reading They first appealed to Mr. Ricks, the station master, an old and crabbed individual, who disliked the boys for the jokes they had played on him in times past.

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

From this reading Dick Rover would not have been so much disturbed by his father's disappearance had it not been for one thing, which was that Mr. Rover, on leaving the closing exercises at Putnam Hall, had declared that he would take the last train home that night.