used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
having companions or an escort
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
from appearances alone
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
Bungey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A man was standing by the window scanning the shrubbery.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
divisible by two
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
ten 10s
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
inspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
Labar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
lilacsnounUS /ˈlaɪlæks/
plural of “lilac” — any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man was standing by the window scanning the shrubbery.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
the force of workers available
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
narrowestadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊəst/
superlative of “narrow” — not wide
From this reading Billy Bungey had only escaped by the narrowest margin from a conviction for murder.
notoriousadjectiveUS /noʊˈtɔːriəs/
known widely and usually unfavorably
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
obeyingverbUS /oʊˈbeɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
on one occasion
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
and nothing more
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
race-gang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
recogniseverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
show approval or appreciation of
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
scanningnounUS /ˈskænɪŋ/
the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer
From this reading A man was standing by the window scanning the shrubbery.
shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/
an area where a number of shrubs are planted
From this reading A man was standing by the window scanning the shrubbery.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
having a supporting base
From this reading A man was standing by the window scanning the shrubbery.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
in a swift manner
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A man was standing by the window scanning the shrubbery.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
which person or people
From this reading Labar thought that he could recognise one of them, even at that distance, as a notorious race-gang tough who was known to be the leader of a group of violent and reckless men which the police had of late broken up.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading A man was standing by the window scanning the shrubbery.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Apparently obeying some summons from within he disappeared, only to return almost at once, accompanied by a couple of other men.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading From the cover of a group of lilacs the detective inspector glanced swiftly back at the house a hundred yards away.
