Chapter XI

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

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

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

From this reading At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession.

recognize with gratitude; be grateful for

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

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

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

take into custody

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

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

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

exhale hard

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession.

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

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

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

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

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

immediately past

From this reading At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

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

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

not any; not one

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

and nothing more

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

freed from illness or injury

From this reading At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

only a very short time before

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior

From this reading At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

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

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though he had half expected it, now that the blow had fallen he seemed scarcely able to appreciate his position.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

precisely as stated

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

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

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

which person or people

From this reading For some moments Godfrey stood looking at the man who had come down from town to arrest him, as if he were stunned.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At last, with an effort, he recovered his self-possession.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You may be able to imagine what a very unhappy mistake this is for me,” he said to the detective.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “But I have no wish to complain to you; you are only doing your duty.