used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
(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 Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
bootynounUS /ˈbuːti/
goods or money obtained illegally
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
conveyingnounUS /kənˈveɪɪŋ/
act of transferring property title from one person to another
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
criminalsnounUS /ˈkrɪmənəlz/
plural of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
characterized by great determination
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
the act of discovering something
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading To do that, however, was not an easy matter.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading To do that, however, was not an easy matter.
effectedadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪd/
settled securely and unconditionally
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading To do that, however, was not an easy matter.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
intimatelyadverbUS /ˈɪntəmətli/
in a close manner
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading To do that, however, was not an easy matter.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
not any; not one
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
overratedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈreɪtɪd/
past form of “overrate” — make too high an estimate of
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
plannedadjectiveUS /plænd/
designed or carried out according to a plan
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
premisesnounUS /ˈpreməsəz/
land and the buildings on it
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
ramificationsnounUS /ˌræməfəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “ramification” — the act of branching out or dividing into branches
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
robberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/
larceny by threat of violence
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
a person, without saying who
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
not in physical motion
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To do that, however, was not an easy matter.
tolerablyadverb
in an acceptable (but not outstanding) manner
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
undertakenverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪkən/
inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
precisely as stated
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/
the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
(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 It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
at the time that
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The fact of the robbery having been committed on the Wednesday, which was a Government holiday, showed that it had been well planned, and it was equally evident that somebody concerned in it was intimately acquainted with the premises and all their ramifications.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was tolerably certain that, whoever they were, they must have been well acquainted with the premises.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Of course it went without saying that no one could have undertaken and carried out such an extraordinary robbery without first of all making a very careful study of every detail, as well as of every means of reaching the booty, and of conveying it away when secured.
but in spite of that
From this reading The importance of the discovery of the way by which the criminals had effected their escape could not be overrated, and yet it was of still greater importance that the way by which they entered should be determined.
