Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

(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 The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

declared but not proved

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

cook and make edible by putting in a hot oven

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

lacking funds

From this reading HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

plural of “constable” — a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

possessive form of “cook” — someone who cooks food

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

a small house with a single story

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

a body serving in an administrative capacity

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade

From this reading HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

a long fixed look

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

plural of “german” — a person of German nationality

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

plural of “hamlet” — a community of people smaller than a village

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

enclosed in the same envelope or package

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

the act of entering some territory or domain (often in large numbers)

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

a small worthless amount

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

be amazed at

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

a battle in the Seven Years' War (1759) in which the English forces and their allies defeated the French

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

a form of address for a man

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

kill intentionally and with premeditation

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

land and the buildings on it

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

to give an account or representation of in words

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

express the need or desire for

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

United States humorist remembered for his homespun commentary on politics and American society (1879-1935)

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

the trait of keeping things secret

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

be standing; be upright

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

make steady

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

bound by or as if by an oath

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Constable Hosken had been despatched to search the plantation thoroughly and to report.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage-- Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and I. Mr. Goodfellow had been included at Miss Belcher's particular request.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Two other constables had arrived, and were coping, in front and rear of the cottage, with a steady if straggling incursion of visitors from the near villages and hamlets of St. Germans, Hessenford, Bake, and Catchfrench, drawn by reports of a second murder to come and stand and gaze at the premises.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The report among them (as I learned afterwards) ran that a second body--alleged by some to be mine, by others to be Ann the cook's--had been discovered lying in its own blood in the attic; but the marvel was how the report could have spread at all, since Miss Belcher had sworn the two woodmen to secrecy.