used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
at or in the front
From this reading BREAKERS AHEAD.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
react verbally
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
BREAKERSnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading BREAKERS AHEAD.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
commissionnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
concoctedverbUS /kənˈkɑːktəd/
past form of “concoct” — make a concoction (of) by mixing
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
contemplatingverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
accept an excuse for
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
Godfrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
an established custom
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
Harland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
IrisnounUS /ˈaɪrəs/
plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
long-sufferingnoun
patient endurance of pain or unhappiness
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
remorsenounUS /rɪˈmɔːrs/
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
cut with a saw
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
express in words
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Godfrey Harland did not go home that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading So the less he saw of her whilst he remained in England, he thought, the better, and he had already concocted an excuse for pretending to go into the country.
timidadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmɪd/
showing fear and lack of confidence
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
in or at the place that
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He was contemplating the commission of a crime, and he felt little remorse upon the subject, but he dreaded the questioning of his wife as to where he had been and what he had been doing.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Iris was a timid and long-suffering woman, but she had an unpleasant habit of looking one straight in the eyes whilst she waited for an answer, which made it most difficult to tell her a good lie, and stick to it.
