used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading Accordingly he spoke to Alligator Smith along that line.
AlligatornounUS /ˈæləɡeɪtər/
leather made from alligator's hide
From this reading Accordingly he spoke to Alligator Smith along that line.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Accordingly he spoke to Alligator Smith along that line.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
arisingverbUS /ərˈaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
complicationsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
consultationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/
a conference (usually with someone important)
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
fataladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtəl/
bringing death
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
set up or found
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
fugitivenounUS /ˈfjuːdʒətɪv/
someone who flees from an uncongenial situation
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
guidingadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdɪŋ/
exerting control or influence
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
hold-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
lairnounUS /ler/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
immediately past
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Accordingly he spoke to Alligator Smith along that line.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
mistakesnounUS /mɪˈsteɪks/
plural of “mistake” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
many times at short intervals
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
and nothing more
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
sheriffnounUS /ˈʃerəf/
the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading Accordingly he spoke to Alligator Smith along that line.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Accordingly he spoke to Alligator Smith along that line.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
Thad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
male cat
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading Thad had always found that a good understanding in the start was more than half the battle.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It often prevented serious complications from arising, and mistakes being committed that were apt to prove fatal to success.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
in or at the place that
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
which person or people
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A little hold-up right here and now won’t interfere with our hopes of success, will it, Tom Smith?” was the way he put it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Before they made any sort of a start upon what would probably be the last leg of their hunt, Thad believed it would be only a wise move if he and the sheriff had a little consultation with the man who was guiding them to where he believed the lair of the fugitive thief lay.
