used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
Baggert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Oh, how do you do, Miss Nestor?
engrossedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈɡroʊst/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
Half-interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
(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 Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading No, Tom isn’t here.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, how do you do, Miss Nestor?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No, Tom isn’t here.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “Oh, how do you do, Miss Nestor?
a form of address for a man
From this reading Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
mysteriouslyadverbUS /ˌmɪˈstɪriəsli/
in a cryptic manner
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
NestornounUS /ˈnestər/
(Greek mythology) a wise old counselor to the Greeks at Troy
From this reading “Oh, how do you do, Miss Nestor?
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
not any; not one
From this reading No, Tom isn’t here.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, how do you do, Miss Nestor?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
one-sidedadjectiveUS /ˌwʌnˈsaɪdəd/
not reversible or capable of having either side out
From this reading Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
express in words
From this reading Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
moving very fast
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Half-interested in the conversation, Mr. Swift listened to the one-sided talk, hearing Mrs. Baggert say:
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
tinkledverbUS /ˈtɪŋkəld/
past form of “tinkle” — make or emit a high sound
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
male cat
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
at the time that
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As Tom’s father was reading a scientific book in which he was much engrossed, Mrs. Baggert went to the instrument.
which person or people
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading About nine o’clock on the night when Tom Swift had witnessed the strange actions of the man who so mysteriously disappeared, the telephone bell tinkled in the Swift home.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Oh, how do you do, Miss Nestor?
