used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
any thing at all
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT FAULT.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
BedenounUS /biːd/
(Roman Catholic Church) English monk and scholar (672-735)
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
true confidential information
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
the act of discovering something
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
let fall to the ground
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
employernounUS /emˈplɔɪər/
a person or firm that employs workers
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading AT FAULT.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
forwardsadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərdz/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
Greatorex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
nutshellnounUS /ˈnʌtʃel/
the shell around the kernel of a nut
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
a human being
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
police-agents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
express in words
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
solenounUS /soʊl/
the underside of footwear or a golf club
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
a special situation
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was easier for Mr. Bede Greatorex to say to the police-agents "Drop the investigation," than it was for them to do it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had he been the sole person to whom they were responsible, the thing would have lain in a nutshell; but their employer was his father.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading He looked up details himself; he went backwards and forwards to Scotland Yard; he was altogether troublesome.
but in spite of that
From this reading And Mr. Greatorex was pushing discovery to an issue as he had never pushed anything yet.
