used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There's no use trying to force this door and the windows are now shuttered and barred.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
Cleek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
commendableadjectiveUS /kəˈmendəbəl/
worthy of high praise
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
ConstablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
entrynounUS /ˈentri/
an item inserted in a written record
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading "There's no use trying to force this door and the windows are now shuttered and barred.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
not any; not one
From this reading "There's no use trying to force this door and the windows are now shuttered and barred.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
portlyadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrtli/
euphemisms for “fat”
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
RobertsnounUS /ˈrɑːbərts/
United States biochemist (born in England) honored for his discovery that some genes contain introns (born in 1943)
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
shutteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃʌtərd/
provided with shutters or shutters as specified; often used in combination
From this reading "There's no use trying to force this door and the windows are now shuttered and barred.
SnappingverbUS /ˈsnæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
move hurridly
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS Constable Roberts did "come on" and at a speed highly commendable, considering his portly build.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's no use trying to force this door and the windows are now shuttered and barred.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "There's no use trying to force this door and the windows are now shuttered and barred.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/
plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
hard to endure
From this reading "There's no use trying to force this door and the windows are now shuttered and barred.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Snapping on their electric torches they tore up the short flight of steps leading to the front door.
the act of using
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Cleek, passing the long French windows through which he had obtained entry but an hour before, stopped to ascertain that they, too, were now bolted and barred.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Someone has made good use of their time," Cleek whispered, as he thought how easily he had entered with Lady Margaret such a short while before.
