used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
abandonverbUS /əˈbændən/
forsake, leave behind
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
in addition
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
blanklyadverbUS /ˈblæŋkli/
in a blank and uncomprehending manner
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
Craddock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
Craddock's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading Craddock, too, tried to “fix” the owner of the voice.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
a long fixed look
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
only a very short time before
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
indulgingnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒɪŋ/
the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
and nothing more
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Craddock, too, tried to “fix” the owner of the voice.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
pupnounUS /pʌp/
young of any of various canines such as a dog or wolf
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading For a few moments, Peter Craddock could hardly believe his sense of hearing.
Symington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading They could only abandon their efforts to teach the pup tricks and gaze blankly at Craddock’s face.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Craddock, too, tried to “fix” the owner of the voice.
ventriloquismnoun
the art of projecting your voice so that it seems to come from another source (as from a ventriloquist's dummy)
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Craddock, too, tried to “fix” the owner of the voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first conclusion they arrived at was that Peter was indulging in a little ventriloquism at their expense.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
WilsonnounUS /ˈwɪlsən/
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Wilson and Symington were also too astonished for words.
