Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The bottom of the window was about seven feet from the ground.

past form of “accord” — go together

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

later than; following

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

fear resulting from the awareness of danger

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

any person at all

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

subject to appointment

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

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

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

the lower side of anything

From this reading The bottom of the window was about seven feet from the ground.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

an occurrence of something

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

a small house with a single story

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

a communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some action

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The bottom of the window was about seven feet from the ground.

inflected form of “flag” — communicate or signal with a flag

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

bottle that has a narrow neck

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

befitting a man of good breeding

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

death of a person

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The bottom of the window was about seven feet from the ground.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

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

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

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

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

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

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

device for converting sound waves into electrical energy

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

the property of making no noise

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

plural of “passer-by” — a person who passes by casually or by chance

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

a course of conduct

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

inflected form of “rely” — have faith or confidence in

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

the imperial authority symbolized by a scepter

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading The bottom of the window was about seven feet from the ground.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

someone who pushes

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

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

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

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

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading THE SCEPTER IN THE GRAVE Sergeant Hooper took up his appointed position on the flagged path that led up to the cottage door.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

with vigor; in a vigorous manner

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

a message informing of danger

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Neddy, the Shover, and gentlemanly Mike tiptoed off to the window, on the right hand side of the door as one approached the house from the road.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.

past form of “word” — put into words or an expression

From this reading Here then the Sergeant was left, after being accorded another nip from the flask--which, however, Neddy kept in his own hands this time--and a whispered but vigorously worded exhortation to keep up his courage.

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

From this reading His primary task was to give warning if anybody should come out of the door; a secondary one was to give the alarm in case of interruption by passers-by on the road--an unlikely peril this latter, in view of the hour, the darkness of the night, and the practiced noiselessness with which Mike might be relied upon to do his work.