used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
Atterbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
blackmailers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
bravingverbUS /ˈbreɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “brave” — face and withstand with courage
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
Breckinridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
complicationnounUS /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃən/
the act or process of complicating
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
the act of departing
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
destroyed or killed
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
he's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
intense and profound fear
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
identitynounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/
the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
loneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
McCormicknounUS /məˈkɔːrmɪk/
United States inventor and manufacturer of a mechanical harvester (1809-1884)
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
win a victory over
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
partiallyadverbUS /ˈpɑːrʃəli/
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Instead of going to the police and braving a public inquiry, or coming to me, he chose to play a lone hand against the blackmailers, and lost.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
revoltedverbUS /rɪˈvoʊltɪd/
past form of “revolt” — make revolution
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
scandalnounUS /ˈskændəl/
disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
slayer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
moving very fast
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
carry out
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "They had never before gone so far as to take life.
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
TrovenounUS /troʊv/
treasure of unknown ownership found hidden (usually in the earth)
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He must have been meat for the Atterbury gang until he revolted, but he made a big mistake then.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Breckinridge had the reputation of being pretty swift and he's been mixed up in more than one scandal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
at the time that
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _Treasure Trove._ "You see the murder of Breckinridge was an unexpected complication in the plans of the gang," McCormick explained, when the girl's first intense horror at the knowledge of the slayer's identity had been partially overcome.
