Chapter II · Ned Disappears

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

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

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

past form of “decline” — grow worse

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

kill in large numbers

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

steadfast in affection or allegiance

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

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

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

a social unit living together

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

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

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

a workplace for the conduct of scientific research

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

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

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

immediately following in time or order

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

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

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

not any; not one

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

on the contrary

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

only a very short time before

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

the state of being asleep

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.

agitating a liquid with an implement

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

moving very fast

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

possessive form of “swift” — United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “What was that?

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

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

move fast, noisily, and heavily

From this reading Thunder?”

male cat

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

possessive form of “tom” — male cat

From this reading Mr. Swift, Tom’s aged and rather infirm father, sat up in bed and called:

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

From this reading SCARCELY had the echoes of the explosion in Tom Swift’s laboratory died away, being swallowed up in the blackness and silence of the night, than members of the Swift household began stirring.

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

From this reading “What was that?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What was that?

which person or people

From this reading “No, Massa Swift,” answered Eradicate, the faithful colored servant, who, now that Mr. Swift had declined so, was his personal attendant, sleeping in the next room.