used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
(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 Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Nevertheless, Eric had already decided that much of this was assumed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading This was in reference to the artist.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading Nevertheless, Eric had already decided that much of this was assumed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
Darrell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Nevertheless, Eric had already decided that much of this was assumed.
the act of discovering something
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
psychological suffering
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
drugverbUS /drʌɡ/
administer a drug to
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
Eric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
for this reason
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Nevertheless, Eric had already decided that much of this was assumed.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless, Eric had already decided that much of this was assumed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
opiumnounUS /ˈoʊpiəm/
an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
PrescottnounUS /ˈpreskɑːt/
a town in central Arizona
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
referencenounUS /ˈrefərəns/
a remark that calls attention to something or someone
From this reading This was in reference to the artist.
Identical; not different.
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
smoker'snounUS /ˈsmoʊkərz/
possessive form of “smoker” — a person who smokes tobacco
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before Eric Darrell had been in the place ten minutes he made a discovery that had a strong bearing on the case.
a special situation
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was in reference to the artist.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was in reference to the artist.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was in reference to the artist.
at the time that
From this reading Paul Prescott had shown all the signs of an opium smoker’s eagerness to have a draw at the subtle drug when he came in.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His own experience showed how such a thing could be; hence, he believed another might copy the same signs of distress with equal success.
