used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
accusationsnounUS /ˌækjəˈzeɪʃənz/
plural of “accusation” — a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
an occurrence of something
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
collaredverbUS /ˈkɑːlərd/
past form of “collar” — take into custody
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
at any time
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
a boy or man
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
set up or found
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
destroyed or killed
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
mockingadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːkɪŋ/
abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
and nothing more
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
a separate part of a whole
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
in the near future
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
established beyond doubt
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
relieve from
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
express a supposition
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
a special situation
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "If we ever caught him, and he had this thing in his possession, we should easily have proved our accusations against him."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading "More likely he wished to be rid of an awkward piece of evidence in case he was ever collared by us," I said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "The only thing I don’t understand is," he said presently, "why Strong should have presented the fellow with his revolver.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of course he found the treasure," said Jack, "or he wouldn’t have gone away."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Do you suppose he intended us to find it here, as a sort of mocking message to us that we had failed?"
