used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Yes," answered Thorndyke.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
an occurrence of something
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
condensernounUS /kənˈdensər/
an electrical device characterized by its capacity to store an electric charge
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
increase twofold
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
set up or found
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
brought together in one place
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
materialsnounUS /məˈtɪriəlz/
plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
micro-organisms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
microscopenounUS /ˈmaɪkrəskoʊp/
magnifier of the image of small objects
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
plate-cultures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
Polton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
repastnoun
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
Thorndyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
Thorndyke's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
thumb-prints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A condenser threw a bright spot of light on the card, which Thorndyke had been examining when I knocked, as I gathered from the position of the chair, which he now pushed back against the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
at the time that
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Breakfast was laid at one end of the table, while at the other stood a microscope of the pattern used for examining plate-cultures of micro-organisms, on the wide stage of which was one of the cards bearing six thumb-prints in blood.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading A LADY IN THE CASE When I arrived at Thorndyke's chambers on the following morning, I found my friend already hard at work.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," answered Thorndyke.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I see you have commenced work on our problem," I remarked as, in response to a double ring of the electric bell, Polton entered with the materials for our repast.
