used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
anew
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
any thing at all
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
for the reason that
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
eggshellsnounUS /ˈeɡʃelz/
plural of “eggshell” — the exterior covering of a bird's egg
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
fascinatedadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtəd/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
jack-in-the-boxnoun
plaything consisting of a toy clown that jumps out of a box when the lid is opened
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
Jeff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
go away from a place
From this reading "Stick to peddlin'," he said shortly, and took his leave.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
peddlin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Stick to peddlin'," he said shortly, and took his leave.
Pete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
with low volume
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Stick to peddlin'," he said shortly, and took his leave.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
for a short time
From this reading "Stick to peddlin'," he said shortly, and took his leave.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
smackedverbUS /smækt/
past form of “smack” — deliver a hard blow to
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading "Stick to peddlin'," he said shortly, and took his leave.
not in physical motion
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
moving very fast
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
a special situation
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading "Stick to peddlin'," he said shortly, and took his leave.
transformationnounUS /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/
a qualitative change
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
a message informing of danger
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was at the same time a threat and a warning and Jeff knew it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then, holding his jack-in-the-box as though it were eggshells, he made the swift transformation from fascinated child to dangerous man.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Pete sprung the jack again and again, fascinated by this simple thing which smacked of magic, because never before had he seen anything like it.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading For a moment he sat still, then got up and strolled quietly to the window.
