used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
air-pistol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Gad! it certainly wanted looking into!
a person who is in charge
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
Cleek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
dastardlyadjectiveUS /ˈdæstərdli/
despicably cowardly
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
increase twofold
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
Duggan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
estatesnounUS /ɪˈsteɪts/
plural of “estate” — everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
at or to or toward the front
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
GadnounUS /ɡæd/
an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling or lightheadedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months
From this reading Gad! it certainly wanted looking into!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Gad! it certainly wanted looking into!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Gad! it certainly wanted looking into!
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
lairdnounUS /lerd/
a landowner
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Gad! it certainly wanted looking into!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
a particular point in time
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
information about recent and important events
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
Oho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oho!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
and nothing more
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
a human being
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
possessingverbUS /pəˈzesɪŋ/
-ing form of “possess” — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
precisionnounUS /priˈsɪʒən/
the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
RossnounUS /rɑːs/
Scottish explorer who led Arctic expeditions that yielded geographic discoveries while searching for the Northwest Passage (1777-1856)
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
self-same
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
not in physical motion
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
happening unexpectedly
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading A DOUBLE TRAGEDY Cleek sat forward in his seat suddenly, every nerve alert at this somewhat startling piece of news.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Gad! it certainly wanted looking into!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So Ross Duggan was the only person possessing an air-pistol--and the laird had been killed by means of one, shot through the head in a dastardly fashion.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
in the company of; together with
From this reading And the moment had been chosen with such precision that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!
