used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
of short duration or distance
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
condenseverbUS /kənˈdens/
undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
constablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
set up or found
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
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 he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
lumbernounUS /ˈlʌmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
a form of address for a man
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
being perceived or observed
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
by chance
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
robberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/
larceny by threat of violence
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading He sat down on a pile of lumber and leisurely related the story of the robbery.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open his store.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading EXCITEMENT IN TOWN The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about something he was concerned in.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar case, which he found almost emptied of its contents.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
the words that are spoken
From this reading As he took quite a long time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a few words.
