used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Why, of course, Inspector," I said, with a smile.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
apologeticallyadverbUS /əˌpɑːləˈdʒetɪkliː/
in an apologetic manner
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
congratulateverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Why, of course, Inspector," I said, with a smile.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't wonder you suspected me on the evidence you had.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading "I don't wonder you suspected me on the evidence you had.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
Neil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I don't wonder you suspected me on the evidence you had.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Why, of course, Inspector," I said, with a smile.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
term of address for a man
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "Why, of course, Inspector," I said, with a smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
subsidedverbUS /səbˈsaɪdɪd/
past form of “subside” — wear off or die down
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
believed likely
From this reading "I don't wonder you suspected me on the evidence you had.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The latter closed the door, shutting out the confused murmur which we had left behind us.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, of course, Inspector," I said, with a smile.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before the excitement had properly subsided, I was in the little room at the back of the court with Gordon and Inspector Neil.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "I don't wonder you suspected me on the evidence you had.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It's not my place to congratulate you, sir," he observed apologetically, "but I should like to do so if you will allow me."
