used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
for the reason that
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
Benson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I had more than that to go upon.
Colwyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
damningadjectiveUS /ˈdæmɪŋ/
threatening with damnation
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
GallowaynounUS /ˈɡæloʊweɪ/
a district in southwestern Scotland
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But I had more than that to go upon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
inventedverbUS /ˌɪnˈventəd/
past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
liarnounUS /ˈlaɪər/
a person who has lied or who lies repeatedly
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But I had more than that to go upon.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
with speed
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
SuperintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But I had more than that to go upon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
a fact that has been verified
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading "There are several things that I do not understand," said Superintendent Galloway to Colwyn a little later.
unlikelyadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪkli/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But I had more than that to go upon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
at the time that
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Partly because it was extremely unlikely that Benson could have invented a story which fitted so nicely with the facts.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The slightest mistake in his times would have proved him to be a liar.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "How were you able to decide so quickly that Benson had told the truth when he declared that he had not committed the murder, after he had made the damning admission that he had removed the body?"
