used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
astuteadjectiveUS /əˈstuːt/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
emissariesnounUS /ˈeməseriz/
plural of “emissary” — someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
exultantadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzʌltənt/
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
set down according to a plan
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
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 Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
not any; not one
From this reading He had no other object in view.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading He had no other object in view.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He had no other object in view.
outwittedverbUS /ˈaʊtwɪtɪd/
inflected form of “outwit” — beat through cleverness and wit
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
term of address for a man
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had been aware of it almost from the first.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
male cat
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading Tom's business was to lead them as long a dance as possible.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading He had no other object in view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Tom knew quite well that he was being followed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading He felt an exultant triumph in the thought that they had outwitted the astute Sir James, and that his emissaries were following the wrong man, falling into the trap which had been laid for them.
