used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
(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 So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
the two together, not just one
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
confrontverbUS /kənˈfrʌnt/
oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
ConstablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
ConstablesnounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəlz/
plural of “constable” — a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
contingencynounUS /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/
a possible event or occurrence or result
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
dithered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
Doyle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
come to pass
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
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 So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
immediately past
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Mr. N-n-nesbitt?” dithered George.
N-n-nesbitt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. N-n-nesbitt?” dithered George.
not any; not one
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
Perspicacitynoun
intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings)
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
purposeful-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
without speaking
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
stern-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perspicacity of a Chief Constable For quite fifteen seconds George dithered silently on the doorstep.
a special situation
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
unsmilingadjectiveUS /ənˈsmaɪlɪŋ/
not smiling
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Chief Constable was the last thing he had expected to be called upon to confront, and a stern-eyed, unsmiling, purposeful-looking Chief Constable at that.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
at the time that
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So far as George knew, Chief Constables were a contingency for which no preparation had been made at all.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And of course it _would_ happen when both Guy and Doyle were not here to deal with it.
