Chapter XXIV

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

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

in addition

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

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

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

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

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

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

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

an occurrence of something

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

having made preparations

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

plural of “fence” — a barrier that serves to enclose an area

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

possessive form of “field” — a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

plural of “good” — benefit

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

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

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

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

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

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

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

enclosed in the same envelope or package

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

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

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

engage in

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

a form of address for a man

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

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

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

and nothing more

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

be shown or be found to be

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading THE STOLEN SILVER.

tableware made of silver or silver plate or pewter or stainless steel

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

a person, without saying who

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent

From this reading THE STOLEN SILVER.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.

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

From this reading THE STOLEN SILVER.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

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

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.

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

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

widely or fully known

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.