used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
an occurrence of something
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
excusesnounUS /ɪksˈkjuːsɪz/
plural of “excuse” — a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
exploreverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːr/
inquire into
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
HolmesnounUS /hoʊmz/
a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
intrudersnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdərz/
plural of “intruder” — someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
the force of workers available
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
point-blankadjective
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
except for; apart from
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
plural of “soul” — the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
stakesnounUS /steɪks/
the money risked on a gamble
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading And you burst suddenly into it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the object excuses you, since it was to try and save her.
accept gladly
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, the stakes are down and the reserve open and you can explore where you will.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
at the time that
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
in or at the place that
From this reading I guess most men have a little private reserve of their own in some corner of their souls where they don't welcome intruders.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "That may be so, but you will admit, Mr. Holmes, that most men would shy off a bit when they are asked point-blank what their relations with a woman may be--if there is really some serious feeling in the case.
