used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
(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 And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What are you doing here?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
exhale hard
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "You sneak!" he cried.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "What are you doing here?"
Ernest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Harry gasped, finally.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Harry gasped, finally.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
GravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/
English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Harry gasped, finally.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "What are you doing here?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
a particular point in time
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
not any; not one
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
on one occasion
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
express in words
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
sneakverbUS /sniːk/
to go stealthily or furtively
From this reading "You sneak!" he cried.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And then, all at once, it came over him that it did not matter what Ernest answered; that there could be no reasonable and good explanation for what he had caught Graves doing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What are you doing here?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BLOW For a moment it would have been hard to say which of them was more completely staggered and amazed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What are you doing here?"
