used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading So reasoned Captain Reginald, and his satisfaction was intense.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
competencynounUS /ˈkɑːmpətɪnsi/
the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
placed crosswise
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
deliberatingverbUS /dɪˈlɪbəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “deliberate” — think about carefully; weigh
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
disappearverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
an opposing military force
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
a social unit living together
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
FOILEDadjectiveUS /fɔɪld/
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading FOILED.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
hesitatingadjectiveUS /ˈhezəteɪtɪŋ/
lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So reasoned Captain Reginald, and his satisfaction was intense.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading So reasoned Captain Reginald, and his satisfaction was intense.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
not any; not one
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
Preston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
reasonedadjectiveUS /ˈriːzənd/
logically valid
From this reading So reasoned Captain Reginald, and his satisfaction was intense.
Reginald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So reasoned Captain Reginald, and his satisfaction was intense.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading So reasoned Captain Reginald, and his satisfaction was intense.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So reasoned Captain Reginald, and his satisfaction was intense.
spiesnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
ValenounUS /veɪl/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
at the time that
From this reading John Vale, having crossed the line of the enemy in disguise, was, according to the laws of war, a spy; and spies, when captured, are always hung.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A fortunate chance seemed about to do for Preston, that which he had been deliberating about, and hesitating whether or no he should have it done.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The family which stood between him and a competency would now disappear, sure enough.
