used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
abortiveadjectiveUS /əˈbɔːrtɪv/
failing to accomplish an intended result
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/
plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
artifices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
(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 Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
darksome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
fouladjectiveUS /faʊl/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
set up or found
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
fruitlessadjectiveUS /ˈfruːtləs/
unproductive of success
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
habitations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
hiding-places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
hovelsnounUS /ˈhʌvəlz/
plural of “hovel” — small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
labyrinthnounUS /ˈlæbərɪnθ/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
mazenounUS /meɪz/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
the force of workers available
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
naughtnounUS /nɔːt/
a quantity of no importance
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
not any; not one
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
quarrynounUS /ˈkwɔːri/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
seamyadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmi/
showing a seam
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
snaresnounUS /snerz/
plural of “snare” — something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
SteelenounUS /stiːl/
English writer (1672-1729)
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
uncoververbUS /ənˈkʌvər/
remove all or part of one's clothes to show one's body
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
utilizedadjectiveUS /ˈjuːtəlaɪzd/
put to use
From this reading And this knowledge he utilized to the best advantage, always to find that his efforts came to naught.
having passed out of existence
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Few men knew the seamy side of London better than John Steele: its darksome streets and foul alleys, its hovels and various habitations.
vigornounUS /ˈvɪɡər/
forceful exertion
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
a vivid mental image
From this reading The man had appeared like a vision from the past, and vanished.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The snares he set before possible hiding-places proved abortive; the artifices he employed to uncover the quarry in maze or labyrinth were fruitless.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT HE found the task no easy one, however, although he went at it with his characteristic vigor and energy.
