used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
abnormaladjectiveUS /æbˈnɔːrməl/
not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
fadnounUS /fæd/
an interest followed with exaggerated zeal
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
set up or found
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
many times at short intervals
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
friend'snounUS /frendz/
possessive form of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
fulfilledadjectiveUS /fʊlˈfɪld/
completed to perfection
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
HolmesnounUS /hoʊmz/
a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
philanthropistnounUS /fəˈlænθrəpəst/
someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
having a point
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
predictionnounUS /priˈdɪkʃən/
the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
salarynounUS /ˈsæləri/
something that remunerates
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
side-alley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
strayedverbUS /streɪd/
past form of “stray” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
showing curiosity
From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
