Chapter XXIX · The Sign of the Crocodile

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

gotten through environmental forces

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

United States prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942)

From this reading Ali Pépé opened the door.

(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 For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

plural of “calf” — young of domestic cattle

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

plural of “christian” — a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Ali Pépé opened the door.

savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

one or the other of two

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

opinion or judgment

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

skillfulness with the hands

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

occurring among members of a family usually by heredity

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

the owner or manager of an inn

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

plural of “ley” — a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

secure in or as if in a berth or dock

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

used to form the superlative

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

not any; not one

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading Ali Pépé opened the door.

plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ali Pépé opened the door.

feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

precisely, exactly

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

a thief who steals from someone by threatening violence

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

plural of “saracen” — (historically) a member of the nomadic people of the Syrian and Arabian deserts at the time of the Roman Empire

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

express in words

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

a native or inhabitant of Spain

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

causing physical or especially psychological injury

From this reading He had acquired considerable reputation in the district for his mode of dressing calves’ feet with saffron, and his handiness in stabbing people in the right place.

(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

inflected form of “supply” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

(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 For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

at the time that

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He made everything a matter of trade, and used to regret that he had inherited no religious opinions which he could have abjured at a fixed price to be got either from the Saracens or the Christians.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE innkeeper was a man of middle size, half Spaniard and half Moor, with a big body and thin leys, a brown skin and grey eyes.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading For the rest, he was a most obliging host, provided your purse was well supplied; and I believe I shall put the finishing stroke to the likeness when I say he was the biggest robber in all Spain, from Pontevedra to Girone.