adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
apparentadjectiveUS /əˈperənt/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
BlackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE Black Killer still cursed the land.
cessationnounUS /ˌseˈseɪʃən/
a stopping
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
crimesnounUS /kraɪmz/
plural of “crime” — (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
cursedadjectiveUS /kɜːrst/
deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading THE Black Killer still cursed the land.
Dalesmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
DavidnounUS /ˈdeɪvɪd/
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
divulgedverbUS /dɪˈvʌldʒd/
past form of “divulge” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
flapverbUS /flæp/
move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
flownverbUS /floʊn/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
gorged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
herdingverbUS /ˈhɜːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “herd” — cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
KillernounUS /ˈkɪlər/
someone who causes the death of a person or animal
From this reading THE Black Killer still cursed the land.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading THE Black Killer still cursed the land.
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
murderer'snounUS /ˈmɜːrdərərz/
possessive form of “murderer” — a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
packingnounUS /ˈpækɪŋ/
any material used especially to protect something
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
piecenounUS /piːs/
a separate part of a whole
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
probabilitynounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiː/
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
proofnounUS /pruːf/
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
ravenverbUS /ˈreɪvən/
obtain or seize by violence
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
riseverbUS /raɪz/
move upward
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
roundsnounUS /raʊndz/
plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
sheepnounUS /ʃiːp/
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
shepherdnounUS /ˈʃepərd/
a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
SometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
squaresnounUS /skwerz/
plural of “square” — (geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading THE Black Killer still cursed the land.
Taillessadjective
not having a tail
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE Black Killer still cursed the land.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
TykenounUS /taɪk/
a native of Yorkshire
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
unaccustomedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd/
unusual or unfamiliar
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
utterlyadverbUS /ˈʌtərli/
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
victimnounUS /ˈvɪktəm/
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no proof; no hope, no apparent probability that the end was near.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Dalesmen were in despair, so utterly futile had their efforts been.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As for the Tailless Tyke, the only piece of evidence against him had flown with David, who, as it chanced, had divulged what he had seen to no man.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes there would be a cessation in the crimes; then a shepherd, going his rounds, would notice his sheep herding together, packing in unaccustomed squares; a raven, gorged to the crop, would rise before him and flap wearily away, and he would come upon the murderer's latest victim.
