used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The people arrested were a nondescript collection of tramps.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading The people arrested were a nondescript collection of tramps.
arrestsnounUS /ərˈests/
plural of “arrest” — the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the newspapers were premature.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading The people arrested were a nondescript collection of tramps.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
editionsnounUS /ɪˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “edition” — the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading But the newspapers were premature.
nondescriptadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːndɪˈskrɪpt/
lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting
From this reading The people arrested were a nondescript collection of tramps.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The people arrested were a nondescript collection of tramps.
offensesnounUS /əˈfensɪz/
plural of “offense” — a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
penny-a-liners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people arrested were a nondescript collection of tramps.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
prejudgeverbUS /priˈdʒʌdʒ/
judge beforehand, especially without sufficient evidence
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
prematureadjectiveUS /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊr/
born after a gestation period of less than the normal time
From this reading But the newspapers were premature.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
ScotlandnounUS /ˈskɑːtlənd/
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
softenverbUS /ˈsɑːfən/
make (images or sounds) soft or softer
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
SuicidenounUS /ˈsuːəsaɪd/
the act of killing yourself
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Several arrests were made, so that the later editions were compelled to soften "Suicide" into "Mystery."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the newspapers were premature.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
trampsnounUS /træmpz/
plural of “tramp” — a vagrant
From this reading The people arrested were a nondescript collection of tramps.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the newspapers were premature.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Most of them had committed other offenses for which the police had not arrested them.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Scotland Yard refused to prejudge the case despite the penny-a-liners.
