used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My words fell upon him as a thunderbolt.
in actual fact
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
cowedverbUS /kaʊd/
past form of “cow” — subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe; frighten (as with threats)
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
give a description of
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
fataladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtəl/
bringing death
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading My words fell upon him as a thunderbolt.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Well, go on," he said mechanically, in a hoarse tone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My words fell upon him as a thunderbolt.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
hoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading "Well, go on," he said mechanically, in a hoarse tone.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading "Well, go on," he said mechanically, in a hoarse tone.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My words fell upon him as a thunderbolt.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
not any; not one
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
removalnounUS /rɪˈmuːvəl/
the act of removing
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, go on," he said mechanically, in a hoarse tone.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
express in words
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading My words fell upon him as a thunderbolt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading My words fell upon him as a thunderbolt.
visiblyadverbUS /ˈvɪzəbli/
in a visible manner
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By this knowledge that I held he was visibly crushed and cowed.
(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, go on," he said mechanically, in a hoarse tone.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading He had entertained no suspicion that the body had been actually discovered before its removal, and never before dreamed that I had entered his flat on that fatal night and witnessed the evidence of the crime.
the words that are spoken
From this reading My words fell upon him as a thunderbolt.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I tell you I did," I replied quite calmly, as in the same tone I went on to describe the exact position in which it lay.
