used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
bricksnounUS /brɪks/
plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A week went by, however, with no result.
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 In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
Dexter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
the act of discovering something
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
employeesnounUS /emˈplɔɪiz/
plural of “employee” — a worker who is hired to perform a job
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
erectionnounUS /ɪˈrekʃən/
an erect penis
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
set up or found
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading A week went by, however, with no result.
ten 10s
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
engage in
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
million-dollar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
a particular point in time
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
not any; not one
From this reading A week went by, however, with no result.
not one, and not any
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
residencesnounUS /ˈrezɪdənsɪz/
plural of “residence” — any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading A week went by, however, with no result.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
tediousadjectiveUS /ˈtiːdiəs/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
express in words
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING Larry Dexter’s task was not an easy one.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week went by, however, with no result.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A week went by, however, with no result.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
in or at the place that
From this reading Larry had “covered” many of the residences of the employees, but near none of them were buildings in the course of erection, where the bricks in question could be found.
belonging to which person
From this reading In the first place there were nearly a hundred of the bank employees, about whose houses he had to circle, in order to determine if there were any of the million-dollar bricks in the vicinity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A week went by, however, with no result.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading This in itself was tedious work, but Larry was eager on the trail, for he could not tell at what moment he might make an unexpected discovery.
