used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
accordancenounUS /əˈkɔːrdəns/
concurrence of opinion
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
(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 Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FOX AND WOLF.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
commitverbUS /kəˈmɪt/
perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
gotten under control
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
dishonorableadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɑːnərəbəl/
lacking honor or integrity; deserving dishonor
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
drawersnounUS /drɔːrz/
underpants worn by men
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything was carefully locked.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
set up or found
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading FOX AND WOLF.
handleverbUS /ˈhændəl/
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
a message received and understood
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
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 Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Everything was carefully locked.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
express in words
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
do one's shopping
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Then he turned over all the papers on the table, but found nothing that contained the information he looked for.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Everything was carefully locked.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading That is to say, he first listened carefully to the retreating footsteps of his master, as he went up the stairs; then he left his table, crept stealthily into the back shop, and began to pull the drawers, turn the handle of the safe, and try the desk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mr. James, left to himself, attempted, in accordance with his daily custom, to commit a dishonorable action.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading FOX AND WOLF.
