Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

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

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

Having no one else present.

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

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

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

from appearances alone

From this reading Apparently they had not been necessary.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

damaged by blows or hard usage

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

an occurrence of something

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

rid of obstructions

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

-ing form of “elicit” — call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

set up or found

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

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

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

-ing form of “identify” — recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

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

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

a message received and understood

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

in a close manner

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

and nothing more

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

set down according to a plan

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

a form of address for a man

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

absolutely essential

From this reading Apparently they had not been necessary.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

on the contrary

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

any object that is left unused or still extant

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

plural of “repair” — the act of putting something in working order again

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

(Old Testament) Hebrew prophet and judge who anointed Saul as king

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

ruined or disrupted

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

in the near future

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

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

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Apparently they had not been necessary.

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

From this reading The repairs that Thorndyke had contemplated in the case of the spectacles, had not been made.

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

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading I opened the drawer and taking from it the two pieces of reed and the shattered remains of the spectacles, laid them on the table.

not suspected or believed likely

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

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

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

which person or people

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.

United States civil rights leader (1901-1981)

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The Statement of Samuel Wilkins As soon as I was alone, I commenced my investigations with a rather desperate hope of eliciting some startling and unsuspected facts.

something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

From this reading The battered wreck that lay before me, just as we had found it, had evidently furnished the necessary information; for, since Thorndyke was in possession of a portrait of Mr. Graves, it was clear that he had succeeded in identifying him so far as to get into communication with some one who had known him intimately.