used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
highly skilled
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Yes,--if you have any to make."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We are the State Prison Directors.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
an occurrence of something
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
convict'snounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkts/
possessive form of “convict” — a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
DirectorsnounUS /dərˈektərz/
plural of “director” — someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading "We are the State Prison Directors.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Yes,--if you have any to make."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
engage in
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading "We are the State Prison Directors.
express the need or desire for
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
term of address for a man
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading "We are the State Prison Directors.
express a supposition
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
express in words
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We are the State Prison Directors.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
a fact that has been verified
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
precisely as stated
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We are the State Prison Directors.
at the time that
From this reading When he had accomplished that task he said, very slowly, "I suppose you want me to make a complaint, sir."
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The convict's mind worked slowly, and it was some time before he could comprehend the explanation and request.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes,--if you have any to make."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading We have heard of your case, and we want you to tell us the whole truth about it."
