used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
(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 Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
blackberriesnounUS /ˈblækberiz/
plural of “blackberry” — large sweet black or very dark purple edible aggregate fruit of any of various bushes of the genus Rubus
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
bushelsnounUS /ˈbʊʃəlz/
plural of “bushel” — a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
cluenounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading The police could not even manufacture a clue.
CluesnounUS /kluːz/
plural of “clue” — a slight indication
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
Constant'snounUS /ˈkɑːnstənts/
possessive form of “constant” — a quantity that does not vary
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The police could not even manufacture a clue.
custodynounUS /ˈkʌstədi/
a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
divisible by two
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
brought together in one place
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/
plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
InferioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɪriər/
of or characteristic of low rank or importance
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
a search for knowledge
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
magistratenounUS /ˈmædʒəstreɪt/
a lay judge or civil authority who administers the law (especially one who conducts a court dealing with minor offenses)
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
manufactureverbUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃər/
put together out of artificial or natural components or parts
From this reading The police could not even manufacture a clue.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
lacking in magnitude or quantity
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
seasonsnounUS /ˈsiːzənz/
plural of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
specimensnounUS /ˈspesəmənz/
plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Inferior specimens were offered them by bushels, but there was not a good one among the lot.
themenounUS /θiːm/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Arthur Constant's death was already the theme of every hearth, railway carriage and public house.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
unripeadjective
not fully developed or mature; not ripe
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Clues, which at such seasons are gathered by the police like blackberries off the hedges, were scanty and unripe.
wretches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the inquiry was resumed, all the poor wretches in custody had been released on suspicion that they were innocent; there was not a single case even for a magistrate.
