used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
Adirondacksnoun
a mountain range in northeastern New York State; a popular resort area
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
balefuladjectiveUS /ˈbeɪlfəl/
deadly or sinister
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
campsnounUS /kæmps/
plural of “camp” — temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
give a description of
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
DISQUIETINGadjectiveUS /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/
causing mental discomfort
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
ElmwoodnounUS /ˈelmwʊd/
hard tough wood of an elm tree; used for e.g. implements and furniture
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
Fairfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
foregathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
grossnessnoun
the quality of lacking taste and refinement
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
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 The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
the force of workers available
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
much-stained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
information about recent and important events
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
nucleusnounUS /ˈnuːkliəs/
a part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
occurrencenounUS /əˈkɜːrəns/
an event that happens
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
overlaidverbUS /ˈoʊvərleɪd/
inflected form of “overlay” — put something on top of something else
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
by chance
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
plottingverbUS /ˈplɑːtɪŋ/
inflected form of “plot” — plan secretly, usually something illegal
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
refinementnounUS /rəˈfaɪnmənt/
a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
road-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
snowballnounUS /ˈsnoʊbɔːl/
plant having heads of fragrant white trumpet-shaped flowers; grows in sandy arid regions
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
required or under orders
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It must not be supposed that the men had been there during all the time I have taken to describe the holiday scenes at Elmwood Hall.
male cat
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading DISQUIETING NEWS Three men sat in the back room of the road-house, talking in whispers, a much-stained table forming the nucleus of the group.
which person or people
From this reading The men were the same three who foregathered as Tom Fairfield and his chums left the scene of the snowball accident, and it was the same day as that occurrence.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading But I left the three men there, plotting, and now it is time to return to them, since Tom and his chums are well on their way to the winter camps in the Adirondacks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two of the men were of evil faces, one not so much, perhaps, as the other, while the third man’s countenance showed some little refinement, though it was overlaid with grossness, and the light in the eyes was baleful.
