Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

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

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

third-person singular of “attend” — be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

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

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

equipment for taking photographs (usually consisting of a lightproof box with a lens at one end and light-sensitive film at the other)

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

an occurrence of something

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

a person who seeks the advice of a lawyer

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

possessive form of “coroner” — a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

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

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

a slight wetness

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

characterized by great determination

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

plural of “drove” — a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

to or in any or all places

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

past form of “file” — record in a public office or in a court of law

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

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

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

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

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

of great significance or value

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

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

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

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

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

not one, and not any

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

past form of “obtain” — come into possession of

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

and nothing more

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

plural of “pencil” — a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

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

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

record on photographic film

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

third-person singular of “realize” — be fully aware or cognizant of

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

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

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

plural of “reporter” — a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

cut with a saw

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

an area that includes places where several people can sit

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

a single object (as distinguished from a pair)

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

be seated

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

be standing; be upright

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

past form of “station” — assign to a station

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

express a supposition

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

plural of “swarm” — a moving crowd

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

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

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading I saw Singleton, the district attorney, come in and sit down near the coroner, and then the jury filed in from their room and took their seats.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

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

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

up to a particular time

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

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

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Only behind the little railing before the coroner's desk was there breathing space, and we sank into our seats at the table there with a sigh of relief.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The reporters took up most of the space in this small room, paper and pencils were everywhere in evidence, and in one corner there was a man with a camera stationed, determined, I suppose, to get a photograph of our client, should she be called to the stand, since none could be obtained in any other way.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The outer room was crowded from end to end, and the atmosphere reeked with unpleasant dampness.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading One never realizes how many newspapers there are in New York until one attends an important criminal case--that brings their people out in droves and swarms.