used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
admiringverbUS /ædˈmaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “admire” — feel admiration for
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
(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 Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
bailiffnounUS /ˈbeɪləf/
an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs and processes and make arrests etc.
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
fittingadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪŋ/
in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
Moriarty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
movesnounUS /muːvz/
plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
not any; not one
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
PipernounUS /ˈpaɪpər/
someone who plays the bagpipe
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
premisesnounUS /ˈpreməsəz/
land and the buildings on it
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
express in words
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
stablesnounUS /ˈsteɪbəlz/
plural of “stable” — a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
stableyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
stoatnoun
the ermine in its brown summer coat with black-tipped tail
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
strategicaladjectiveUS /strəˈtiːdʒɪkəl/
relating to or concerned with strategy
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
subliminaladjectiveUS /səˈblɪmɪnəl/
below the threshold of conscious perception
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
unobtrusiveadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəbˈtruːsɪv/
not obtrusive or undesirably noticeable
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
unremarkableadjectiveUS /ənrɪˈmɑːrkəbəl/
found in the ordinary course of events
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
vacatedverbUS /veɪˈkeɪtɪd/
past form of “vacate” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
vicenounUS /vaɪs/
moral weakness
From this reading He had always been a careful and saving man, and his character had never been developed by vice.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Piper had vacated the stableyard, and was making a tour of the premises, admiring the view from all points, and quite on the alert for strategical moves.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading He was by no manner of means a fool in his profession; watchful as a stoat, unobtrusive, when his mouth was closed, fitting into corners, and unremarkable, he made an excellent bailiff.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What lay in the subliminal depths of Mr. Piper, Mr. Piper himself could not say.
at the time that
From this reading Moriarty, when he left his master, betook him to the stables and his duties.
