used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the young inventor held himself well in hand.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
death of a person
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading But the young inventor held himself well in hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But the young inventor held himself well in hand.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the young inventor held himself well in hand.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading But the young inventor held himself well in hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
a form of address for a man
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
nappingadjectiveUS /ˈnæpɪŋ/
not prepared or vigilant
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Though he was not quite prepared for the offer, it did not catch him napping.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
sinceritynounUS /sɪnˈserəti/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
moving very fast
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
male cat
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
vitallyadverbUS /ˈvaɪtəli/
to a vital degree
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
(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 the young inventor held himself well in hand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading GRAVE though the situation was, Tom Swift could not help smiling a little at the evident sincerity and anxiety of Mr. B. Nor were the others less vitally interested.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They leaned forward over the table, staring at Tom’s face, which was in the full glare of a powerful light.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They wanted to see if Tom would give under the strain.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But the young inventor held himself well in hand.
