used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
terminate
From this reading It was necessary to break gently to the public the fact that Robert Grell was not dead.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading Meanwhile, he occupied himself with a work of composition.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading It was necessary to break gently to the public the fact that Robert Grell was not dead.
detainverbUS /dɪˈteɪn/
deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It was necessary to break gently to the public the fact that Robert Grell was not dead.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
Foyle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
in a gradual manner
From this reading It was necessary to break gently to the public the fact that Robert Grell was not dead.
Grell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
Heldon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
Hilary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Meanwhile, he occupied himself with a work of composition.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile, he occupied himself with a work of composition.
a particular point in time
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
absolutely essential
From this reading It was necessary to break gently to the public the fact that Robert Grell was not dead.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Meanwhile, he occupied himself with a work of composition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
on one occasion
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
an amount of time
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
permissibleadjectiveUS /pərˈmɪsəbəl/
that may be permitted especially as according to rule
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading It was necessary to break gently to the public the fact that Robert Grell was not dead.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading It was necessary to break gently to the public the fact that Robert Grell was not dead.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
term of address for a man
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
spick-and-spanadjective
conspicuously new
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
ThorntonnounUS /ˈθɔːrntən/
American architect (1759-1828)
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
tweeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Heldon Foyle had taken advantage of this to hold Grell while he tried to draw further together the tangled threads of the investigation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had changed out of his tweeds and, once more the spick-and-span man about town, he sat down in his office with an order that he was to be informed the moment that Sir Hilary Thornton returned.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It is permissible in certain circumstances for the police to detain a suspect, without making any charge, for a period of not more than twenty-four hours.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Meanwhile, he occupied himself with a work of composition.
