used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
Chatwourth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
DenvernounUS /ˈdenvər/
the state capital and largest city of Colorado; located in central Colorado on the South Platte river
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
ex-convict
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
grindsnounUS /ɡraɪndz/
plural of “grind” — an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And if so, would they send him to the Pen?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
inchedverbUS /ɪntʃt/
past form of “inch” — advance slowly, as if by inches
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
indictedverbUS /ˌɪnˈdaɪtɪd/
past form of “indict” — accuse formally of a crime
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
jumpersnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpərz/
plural of “jumper” — a person who jumps
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
jurynounUS /ˈdʒʊri/
a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
set down according to a plan
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
magistratenounUS /ˈmædʒəstreɪt/
a lay judge or civil authority who administers the law (especially one who conducts a court dealing with minor offenses)
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
millverbUS /mɪl/
move about in a confused manner
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
Moroni
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading And if so, would they send him to the Pen?
a human being
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading And if so, would they send him to the Pen?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And if so, would they send him to the Pen?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading His heart sank at that, for the name of "ex-convict" is something that cannot be laid.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
testifiedverbUS /ˈtestəfaɪd/
inflected form of “testify” — give testimony in a court of law
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And if so, would they send him to the Pen?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And if so, would they send him to the Pen?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE COURSE OF THE LAW As he lay in his cell in the county jail at Moroni it was borne in upon Denver that he was caught in some great machine that ground out men as a mill grinds grain.
at the time that
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading It had laid a cold hand on him in the person of an officer of the law, it had inched him on further when a magistrate had examined him and Chatwourth and his jumpers had testified; and now, as he awaited his day in court, he wondered whither it was taking him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The magistrate had held him, the grand jury had indicted him--would the judge and jury find him guilty?
