used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
besetverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Oh, come now, Tom!
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
detailedadjectiveUS /dɪˈteɪld/
developed or executed with care and in minute detail
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
entrynounUS /ˈentri/
an item inserted in a written record
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading This he gave.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, come now, Tom!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
PotomacnounUS /pəˈtoʊmək/
a river in the east central United States; rises in West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains and flows eastward, forming the boundary between Maryland and Virginia, to the Chesapeake Bay
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This he gave.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading During the day he had told a few friends the story of the encounter of the night before.
male cat
From this reading THE STOLEN STRIKE Tom mounted the stairs of Potomac Hall early the next evening.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
versionsnounUS /ˈvɜːrʒənz/
plural of “version” — an interpretation of a matter from a particular viewpoint
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
which person or people
From this reading The story had spread in versions more or less vague and distorted, and now on his entry of the hall he was beset by a crowd who demanded a true and detailed account of the affair.
