used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
burglarsnounUS /ˈbɜːrɡlərz/
plural of “burglar” — a thief who enters a building with intent to steal
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
set up or found
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
a young female
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
an opening into or through something
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
methodicallyadverbUS /məˈθɑːdɪkəli/
in a methodical manner
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
a form of address for a man
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
and nothing more
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
REVEALSverbUS /rɪˈviːlz/
third-person singular of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
a particular situation
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
Staffurth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither Mr. Staffurth, his housekeeper, nor the servant girl had heard a sound.
Staffurth's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
thoroughadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːroʊ/
painstakingly careful and accurate
From this reading REVEALS SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE THE thieves had made a thorough search of old Mr. Staffurth’s study.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading It seemed that only after searching the study thoroughly had the burglars turned their attention to the safe.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were three of them, the detective asserted, for there had been a shower in the night, and he found on the carpet distinct marks of muddy shoes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Every hole and corner had been methodically examined, an operation which must have occupied considerable time.
