used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MIDNIGHT SEARCH.
(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 All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
cleanedverbUS /kliːnd/
past form of “clean” — make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not rest.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
set up or found
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not rest.
not accessible to view
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
ten 10s
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading A MIDNIGHT SEARCH.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
Muggridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not rest.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He could not rest.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading A MIDNIGHT SEARCH.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading All the evening Paul watched in a fever of anxiety for Muggridge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading And matters were a hundred times worse now that the poor things were hidden away so suspiciously than if they had been found in his room.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew that the boots must be cleaned from all traces of his folly of the morning, and must be in their place by breakfast time the next day, or searching inquiries would begin.
