used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
engagingadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ/
attracting or delighting
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
divisible by two
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
figuredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪɡjərd/
(of e.g. fabric design) adorned with patterns
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
a young female
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
LowellnounUS /ˈloʊəl/
United States poet (1917-1977)
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
potentadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊtənt/
having great influence
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
sobrietynounUS /səˈbraɪəti/
the state of being sober and not intoxicated by alcohol
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
not in physical motion
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
Talpers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
Talpers's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
tradernounUS /ˈtreɪdər/
someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
trader'snounUS /ˈtreɪdərz/
possessive form of “trader” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading The letter in his possession was still a potent weapon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As long as matters were even between Bill Talpers and the girl, the trader figured that he could at least afford to let things rest.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He could at least prevent the girl from telling what she seemed to know of the trader's connection with the murder.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Bill Talpers's return to sobriety was considerably hastened by alarm after the trader's words with Lowell.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had figured that the letter would be the means of bringing him a most engaging bride.
