used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
Alban
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
detainingverbUS /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
a young female
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
INSTRUCTIONnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/
a message describing how something is to be done
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
Sergius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
tardinessnounUS /ˈtɑːrdinəs/
the quality or habit of not adhering to a correct or usual or expected time
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
trickedverbUS /trɪkt/
past form of “trick” — deceive somebody
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
triflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading A highly trained agent of Government himself, he rarely permitted any circumstance, however trifling, to escape him; and this circumstance of tardiness was not trifling.
troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
WarsawnounUS /ˈwɔːrsɔː/
the capital and largest city of Poland; located in central Poland
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Certainly I was a fool not to have had him watched--but, then, his first night in Warsaw and he a stranger!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
at the time that
From this reading AN INSTRUCTION TO THE POLICE Count Sergius was a little more than uneasy when Alban returned--he was suspicious.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He may learn that we have tricked him and that would be troublesome.
wrongsnounUS /rɔːŋz/
plural of “wrong” — that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law
From this reading "He has met the girl," the argument went, "and she is detaining him with a fine story of her wrongs.
