used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
addictedadjectiveUS /əˈdɪktɪd/
compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading In the first place the contents of the jar represented over a year’s pay of the average sailor.
an occurrence of something
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
drugverbUS /drʌɡ/
administer a drug to
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
emissarynounUS /ˈeməseri/
someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
an opposing military force
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
FearlessadjectiveUS /ˈfɪrləs/
oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first place the contents of the jar represented over a year’s pay of the average sailor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
jarverbUS /dʒɑːr/
be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
opiumnounUS /ˈoʊpiəm/
an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
OUTWITTINGverbUS /ˈaʊtwɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “outwit” — beat through cleverness and wit
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading In the first place the contents of the jar represented over a year’s pay of the average sailor.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place the contents of the jar represented over a year’s pay of the average sailor.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
puzzleverbUS /ˈpʌzəl/
be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
rationaladjectiveUS /ˈræʃ.ən.əl/
Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.
From this reading This, however, did not look rational in the present case.
representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading In the first place the contents of the jar represented over a year’s pay of the average sailor.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
transport commercially
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
smuggleverbUS /ˈsmʌɡəl/
import or export without paying customs duties
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
required or under orders
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
the act of using
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances Dave might have supposed that some sailor addicted to the use of opium had hired some emissary to smuggle some of the drug aboard ship.
precisely as stated
From this reading OUTWITTING AN ENEMY Dave Fearless stood looking over the queer jar and its contents very thoughtfully.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well," he declared at length, "this is a puzzle."
year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading In the first place the contents of the jar represented over a year’s pay of the average sailor.
