used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading Cross-examination only amused him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading Hefferom was committed for trial.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
Cross-examinationnoun
(law) close questioning of a hostile witness in a court of law to discredit or throw a new light on the testimony already provided in direct examination
From this reading Cross-examination only amused him.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
Deane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
Deane's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
DESPERATIONnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
dramanounUS /ˈdrɑːmə/
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Hefferom was committed for trial.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
Hefferom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hefferom was committed for trial.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
indirectlyadverbUS /ˌɪndərˈektliː/
not in a forthright manner
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
and nothing more
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
rationaladjectiveUS /ˈræʃ.ən.əl/
Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
straightforwardadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd/
free from ambiguity
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
the act of testing something
From this reading Hefferom was committed for trial.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading DESPERATION The curtain had fallen upon the first act of this little drama in Deane's life.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hefferom was committed for trial.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Deane had walked into the court a few minutes late, as though the whole affair was one which interested him only indirectly.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading He had gone into the witness box without hesitation, and his story had been so perfectly rational and straightforward that people began to wonder whether, indeed, any defence was possible.
