used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
move towards
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
BatesverbUS /beɪts/
third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
ConstablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
without deviation
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
forestallingnounUS /ˌfɔːrˈstɑːlɪŋ/
the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
frowningadjectiveUS /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/
showing displeasure or anger
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
Griggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
immediately past
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
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 A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
come together
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
the force of workers available
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
being perceived or observed
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
patentlyadverbUS /ˈpætəntli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
with speed
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
not used up
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
rolenounUS /roʊl/
the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
cut with a saw
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
tendverbUS /tend/
have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Constable Griggs, quickly forestalling any move that might tend to crowd himself out of the major role, planted himself directly in front of the butler, frowning sternly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
wearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading Despite his evident weariness, he was patently eager for any news.
at the time that
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
in or at the place that
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Bates saw their coming; as a matter of fact, he had from within noticed their approach, and he had come out to meet them.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading A CRY OF TERROR The three men left the little police car where it stood and walked the remaining few yards to the house.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "When was the last time you saw the dead woman alive?" he demanded.
