used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
(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 But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
appreciateverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪt/
recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
befallenverbUS /bəˈfɑːlən/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
EradicateverbUS /ɪˈrædəkeɪt/
kill in large numbers
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
a social unit living together
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
justifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/
having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
immediately past
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
NewtonnounUS /ˈnuːtən/
English mathematician and physicist; remembered for developing the calculus and for his law of gravitation and his three laws of motion (1642-1727)
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
by chance
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
plantverbUS /plænt/
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
a full supply
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
precisely, exactly
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
scarfnounUS /skɑːrf/
a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
have in common
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
moving very fast
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
Swift'snounUS /swɪfts/
possessive form of “swift” — United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mr. Swift began looking for his hat and neck scarf, this last on the suggestion of his housekeeper.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
male cat
From this reading Adventures in plenty had befallen Tom Swift, and in many of them Ned Newton had had a share.
the upper part of anything
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
which person or people
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading Still he could understand and appreciate Mr. Swift’s worry.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
a late time of life
From this reading A little later Mr. Swift, Ned, and Eradicate, the aged colored servant who had been in the Swift family many years, were on their way to the big plant, almost a mile distant.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But always the young inventor had come out “on top of the heap,” so perhaps Ned was justified in his feeling that everything would be all right.
