used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He took it inside and opened it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading He swore bitterly.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
DetectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
FitzgeraldnounUS /fɪtsˈdʒerəld/
English poet remembered primarily for his free translation of the poetry of Omar Khayyam (1809-1883)
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
set up or found
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took it inside and opened it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading He took it inside and opened it.
irrationallyadverbUS /ˌɪˈræʃənəli/
in an irrational manner
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
meerschaumnoun
a white clayey mineral
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He took it inside and opened it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
packagenounUS /ˈpækədʒ/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
racketeernounUS /ˌrækɪˈtɪr/
someone who commits crimes for profit (especially one who obtains money by fraud or extortion)
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
remarkablyadverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
SergeantnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
sworeverbUS /swɔːr/
inflected form of “swear” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading He swore bitterly.
carry out
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took it inside and opened it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
a late time of life
From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
