used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
equally
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
(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 In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
coal-blackadjective
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
coronernounUS /ˈkɔːrənər/
a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
engage in
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
manornounUS /ˈmænər/
the mansion of a lord or wealthy person
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
midafternoonnounUS /ˈmɪdæftərnuːn/
the middle part of the afternoon
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
murderernounUS /ˈmɜːrdərər/
a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
not one, and not any
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
on one occasion
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
on the contrary
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
sheriffnounUS /ˈʃerəf/
the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
swarthyadjectiveUS /ˈswɔːrði/
naturally having skin of a dark color
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
systematicadjectiveUS /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪk/
characterized by order and planning
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading None of us could read the thoughts behind his rather swarthy face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading In midafternoon the coroner called all the occupants of the manor house together in the big living-room.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
unfathomableadjectiveUS /ənˈfæðəməbəl/
of depth; not capable of being sounded or measured
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He began at once upon a patient, systematic questioning of every one present.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had us draw chairs to make a half circle about him, and the sheriff took a chair at his side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading His coal-black eyes were alike unfathomable: whether he believed that the murderer was then sitting in our circle we could not guess.
