used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I asked.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
confidedverbUS /kənˈfaɪdɪd/
past form of “confide” — reveal in private; tell confidentially
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
contemplativeadjectiveUS /kənˈtemplətɪv/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
demandingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmændɪŋ/
requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
highest in quality
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I asked.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
apprehended with certainty
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
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 "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
used to form the superlative
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
PrefectnounUS /ˈpriːfekt/
a chief officer or chief magistrate
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
continue talking
From this reading "Proceed," said I.
puffverbUS /pʌf/
smoke and exhale strongly
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Proceed," said I.
secrecynounUS /ˈsiːkrəsi/
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
make steady
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
express in words
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "And what, after all, _is_ the matter on hand?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I had confided it to any one."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady, and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair.
