adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
actuallyadverbUS /ˈæktʃuːəli/
in actual fact
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
arriveverbUS /ərˈaɪv/
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
briefadjectiveUS /briːf/
of short duration or distance
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/
placed in a grave
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
cabmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
capnounUS /kæp/
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
carnounUS /kɑːr/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
chinnounUS /tʃɪn/
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
comforternounUS /ˈkʌmfərtər/
a person who commiserates with someone who has had misfortune
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
Coombes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
Detective-Sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Finally he disappeared.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
EndnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
entriesnounUS /ˈentriz/
plural of “entry” — an item inserted in a written record
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
FinallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally he disappeared.
foldsnounUS /foʊldz/
plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
of an obscure nature
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
NIGHT-LIFE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
notebooknounUS /ˈnoʊtbʊk/
a book with blank pages for recording notes or memoranda
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
overcoatnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊt/
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
passingnounUS /ˈpæsɪŋ/
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading No one actually saw him go, and no one had actually seen him arrive.
slyadjectiveUS /slaɪ/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
smileverbUS /smaɪl/
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
SOHOnounUS /ˈsoʊhoʊ/
a district in southwestern Manhattan noted for its shops and restaurants and galleries and artist's lofts
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
taxicabsnounUS /ˈtæksikæbz/
plural of “taxicab” — a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
thoroughfarenounUS /ˈθɜːroʊfer/
a public road from one place to another
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
tweednounUS /twiːd/
thick woolen fabric used for clothing; originated in Scotland
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
unobtrusivelyadverb
in an unobtrusive manner
From this reading He seemed to have business of a mysterious nature among the cabmen; for with each of them in turn he conducted a brief conversation, passing unobtrusively from cab to cab, and making certain entries in a notebook.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
WestnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading NIGHT-LIFE OF SOHO It was close upon midnight when Detective-Sergeant Coombes appeared in a certain narrow West End thoroughfare, which was lined with taxicabs and private cars.
woollennounUS /ˈwʊlən/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
woreverbUS /wɔːr/
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore a dark overcoat and a tweed cap, and although his chin was buried in the genial folds of a woollen comforter, and his cap was pulled down over his eyes, his sly smile could easily be detected even in the dim light afforded by the car lamps.
