used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
highly skilled
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
exhale hard
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
CLUEnounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
at any time
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
explosiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsploʊsɪv/
serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
finelyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnli/
in tiny pieces
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
fistfulnounUS /ˈfɪstfəl/
the quantity that can be held in the hand
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
hopelesslyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpləsli/
in a hopeless manner
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
marshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
probabilitynounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiː/
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
saltingnounUS /ˈsɔːltɪŋ/
the act of adding salt to food
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
slabnounUS /slæb/
block consisting of a thick piece of something
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
toilverbUS /tɔɪl/
work hard
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
trickleverbUS /ˈtrɪkəl/
run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
TuesdaynounUS /ˈtuːzdi/
the third day of the week; the second working day
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
except if; if not
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
unremittingadjectiveUS /ˌʌnrɪˈmɪtɪŋ/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading It was not coffee, however; it was the fruit of four days and nights of about the most unremitting toil that any human being has ever accomplished.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I leaned forward, and picking up a fistful, allowed it to trickle slowly through my fingers.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
at the time that
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
workshopnounUS /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːp/
small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done
From this reading A NEW CLUE TO AN OLD CRIME It was exactly half-past ten on Tuesday morning when I sat down on the rough wooden bench in my workshop with a little gasp of relief and exhaustion.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Before me, on the lead slab, was a small pile of dark brown powder, which an innocent stranger would in all probability have taken for finely ground coffee.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Unless I was wrong--utterly and hopelessly wrong--I had enough of the new explosive in front of me to blow this particular bit of marsh and salting into the middle of next week.
