used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Lord Russell was dead.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
drunkenadjectiveUS /ˈdrʌŋkən/
given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
executorsnounUS /ɪɡˈzekjətərz/
plural of “executor” — a person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of the will
From this reading Moreover, the notes were obviously not in the possession of the executors.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Lord Russell was dead.
memorandanounUS /ˌmemərˈændə/
a written proposal or reminder
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
momentousadjectiveUS /moʊˈmentəs/
of very great significance
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, the notes were obviously not in the possession of the executors.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
not any; not one
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Moreover, the notes were obviously not in the possession of the executors.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
numbingadjectiveUS /ˈnʌmɪŋ/
causing numbness or insensitivity
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Moreover, the notes were obviously not in the possession of the executors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
and nothing more
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
reassertedverbUS /ˌriːəˈsɜːrtɪd/
past form of “reassert” — strengthen or make more firm
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
RussellnounUS /ˈrʌsəl/
United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)
From this reading Lord Russell was dead.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
solicitornounUS /səˈlɪsətər/
a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Should, by any chance, no memoranda of them remain he might never be called upon to honor them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lord Russell was dead.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Moreover, the notes were obviously not in the possession of the executors.
in the company of; together with
From this reading These momentous facts came crashing down upon his brain with the weight of stones, numbing for an instant his exquisite torture--then reason reasserted herself.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If circumstances seemed to point in his direction, he had only to deny that the notes had been in his possession, and certainly his word would be taken as against that of the drunken clerk of a solicitor.
