used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
anew
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
divisible by two
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
finger-prints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
flower-beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
HoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
hunchedadjectiveUS /hʌntʃt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
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 As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
Miriam's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
MollienounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
PotterverbUS /ˈpɑːtər/
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
cut with a saw
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
shufflingnounUS /ˈʃʌflɪŋ/
walking with a slow dragging motion without lifting your feet
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Hovering about at some little distance from him was Mollie, who made excited signs in our direction when she saw us.
summonedverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
a special situation
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading If the police had been waiting to arrest me for a crime, they could not have got at me, or even summoned me from outside, but must have waited until I chose to appear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As long as I remained in Miriam's garden, I was safe from interruption.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
at the time that
From this reading But when we had made our plans together, I thought I had better go and see if they had called again, and, if they had, give them my finger-prints and get it over.
which person or people
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Miriam and I left her garden and shut the gate behind us, the first thing we saw was the ragged figure of Lord Potter, who was shuffling about with his shoulders hunched up and his hands in his pockets, looking at the flower-beds.
