used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/
be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
burglarsnounUS /ˈbɜːrɡlərz/
plural of “burglar” — a thief who enters a building with intent to steal
From this reading The first notice the burglars had of danger was from the rear.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
a person who is in charge
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
gotten under control
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The first notice the burglars had of danger was from the rear.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
characterized by great determination
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first notice the burglars had of danger was from the rear.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The first notice the burglars had of danger was from the rear.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
jewelrynounUS /ˈdʒuːəlri/
an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
engage in
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
muslinnounUS /ˈmʌzlən/
plain-woven cotton fabric
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
NICKverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading The first notice the burglars had of danger was from the rear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The first notice the burglars had of danger was from the rear.
express the need or desire for
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
unprofessionaladjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈfeʃənəl/
not characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
at the time that
From this reading He waited until they had been gone several minutes, when he slipped out and passed down the street, determined to see what was to be seen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The chief managed the delicate and dangerous business with great skill.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading They were down behind a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully working at the safe, which contained diamonds and jewelry of immense value.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, but that would have been unprofessional on their part, and he did not make the request.
