used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
(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 He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
allowsverbUS /əˈlaʊz/
third-person singular of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
amateurnounUS /ˈæmətɜːr/
someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
antediluviannoun
any of the early patriarchs who lived prior to the Noachian deluge
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
appearancesnounUS /əˈpɪrənsəz/
plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
assassinationnounUS /əˌsæsəˈneɪʃən/
an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
correspondverbUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːnd/
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
true confidential information
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
a boy or man
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
and nothing more
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
managesverbUS /ˈmænɪdʒɪz/
third-person singular of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
obstinateadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbstənət/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
peacocknounUS /ˈpiːkɑːk/
European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
popularitynounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈlerəti/
the quality of being widely admired or accepted or sought after
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
pretendsnounUS /priˈtendz/
plural of “pretend” — the enactment of a pretense
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
professesverbUS /prəˈfesɪz/
third-person singular of “profess” — practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
reconstructverbUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkt/
reassemble mentally
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
savantnounUS /səˈvɑːnt/
someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading He professes, with the help of one single fact, to be able to reconstruct all the details of an assassination, as a savant pictures an antediluvian animal from a single bone.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
in the near future
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
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 And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As soon as he finds himself in the presence of a crime, like this one, for example, he pretends he can explain everything on the instant.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “The old fellow allows himself to be carried away too much by appearances.
vainer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
precisely as stated
From this reading He has become an amateur detective for the sake of popularity, just like an author; and, as he is vainer than a peacock, he is apt to lose his temper and be very obstinate.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And he manages to invent a story that will correspond exactly with the situation.
