used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
abundancenounUS /əˈbʌndəns/
the property of a more than adequate quantity or supply
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
in addition
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
cluesnounUS /kluːz/
plural of “clue” — a slight indication
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
contemplativeadjectiveUS /kənˈtemplətɪv/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
FletchernounUS /ˈfletʃər/
prolific English dramatist who collaborated with Francis Beaumont and many other dramatists (1579-1625)
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
set up or found
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
landlordnounUS /ˈlændlɔːrd/
a landowner who leases to others
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
liquidadjectiveUS /ˈlɪkwəd/
existing as or having characteristics of a liquid; especially tending to flow
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
and nothing more
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
SinclairnounUS /sɪnˈkler/
United States writer whose novels argued for social reform (1878-1968)
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
that is looked for
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
spirituousadjective
containing or of the nature of alcohol
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
surlyadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrli/
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading He found him also smoking, and in a surly mood, but with the aid of spirituous liquid he was able to thaw his reserve.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He returned to the _Black Horse_ tired and hungry.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here at any rate were clues in abundance if he could only piece them together.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In the Dark Night Fletcher was satisfied with his day’s work.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading After a substantial meal he wrote out his report for Sinclair, and having smoked a contemplative pipe, he sought his landlord.
