used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
emeraldsnounUS /ˈemrəldz/
plural of “emerald” — a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/
a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
at any time
From this reading If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
failuresnounUS /ˈfeɪljərz/
plural of “failure” — an act that fails
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
fictionaladjectiveUS /ˈfɪkʃənəl/
related to or involving literary fiction
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
franknessnounUS /ˈfræŋknəs/
the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
Haggerty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
Haggerty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
initiativenounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/
readiness to embark on bold new ventures
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
keyholenounUS /ˈkiːhoʊl/
the hole where a key is inserted
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
landing-net
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
Maharajah's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If ever criminal investigation was a man's calling, it was Haggerty's.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
and nothing more
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
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 This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
at the time that
From this reading It is only fair to add, however, that when he failed only rarely did any one else succeed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This is not a story of the Maharajah's emeralds; only a knot in the landing-net of which I have already spoken.
which person or people
From this reading It was one of his many failures; for, unlike the great fictional detectives who never fail, Haggerty was human, and did.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I may add with equal frankness that Haggerty, upon his own initiative, never proceeded an inch beyond the keyhole episode.
