used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
abandonverbUS /əˈbændən/
forsake, leave behind
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
actornounUS /ˈæktər/
a theatrical performer
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
assassinnounUS /əˈsæsən/
a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
ignobleadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡˈnoʊbəl/
completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
From this reading Two reasons prevented my taking this ignoble course.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
in the recent past
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
go away from a place
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
Marshminster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
a particular point in time
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading Two reasons prevented my taking this ignoble course.
pursueverbUS /pərˈsuː/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Two reasons prevented my taking this ignoble course.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
reviewingverbUS /riˈvjuːɪŋ/
-ing form of “review” — look at again; examine again
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Two reasons prevented my taking this ignoble course.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Two reasons prevented my taking this ignoble course.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
thrashverbUS /θræʃ/
give a thrashing to; beat hard
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At one moment it was in my mind to abandon what certainly seemed to be a hopeless search, for I could not but see it was a matter of great difficulty to lay my hand on the assassin of Francis.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Having made up my mind what course to pursue, I returned to Marshminster, took leave of my relatives, and left that evening for London.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There I remained two days reviewing the strange events in which I had lately been an actor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be better, I thought, to place the matter in the hands of the police, and let them thrash it out for themselves.
