used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
affirmednounUS /əˈfɜːrmd/
thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1978
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
affraynoun
noisy quarrel
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
(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 The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
buryings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
CornwallnounUS /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl/
a hilly county in southwestern England
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
CovenounUS /koʊv/
a small inlet
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
culminatingverbUS /ˈkʌlməneɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “culminate” — end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
dragoons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
at any time
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
exaggeratedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtəd/
represented as greater than is true or reasonable
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
gallonsnounUS /ˈɡælənz/
plural of “gallon” — United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
hintedverbUS /ˈhɪntəd/
past form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
MillionsnounUS /ˈmɪljənz/
plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
MonksnounUS /mʌŋks/
plural of “monk” — a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
Ortho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
Penhale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
express in words
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
semblancenounUS /ˈsembləns/
an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
smugglingnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlɪŋ/
secretly importing prohibited goods or goods on which duty is due
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
required or under orders
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading Midnight buryings were hinted at, hush money and so on; a dark, thrilling business altogether.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The smuggling affair at Monks Cove was remembered and exaggerated out of all semblance to the truth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Millions of gallons had been run through by Ortho and his gang, culminating in a pitched battle with the dragoons.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Nobody could say how many were killed in that affray, and it was affirmed that nobody ever would know.
a late time of life
From this reading The return of Ortho Penhale, nearly seven years after his supposed death, caused a sensation in West Cornwall.
