used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
conduceverb
be conducive to
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
without stop or interruption
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
an opposing military force
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
go away from a place
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
march in a procession
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
of an obscure nature
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
resumingverbUS /rɪˈzuːmɪŋ/
-ing form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
scareverbUS /sker/
cause fear in
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At any rate, his continued haste along the trail appeared to conduce to such a belief.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
male cat
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading In the second, he was probably aware that his first attempt had failed to scare the boys off his track.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had at first thought that the mysterious noises of the night had been caused by their old enemy, but some reflection made him believe that he was mistaken.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the others were getting things in readiness for resuming the march the next day Tom began an investigation.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading In the first place the thief, having had the good fortune to have his trail wiped out by the snow, was not likely to be foolish enough to come back and leave a fresh one.
