used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
basedadjectiveUS /beɪst/
having a base
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
CairnnounUS /kern/
a mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
cluenounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
confuseverbUS /kənˈfjuːz/
mistake one thing for another
From this reading His reflections served only to confuse his mind.
cordnounUS /kɔːrd/
a line made of twisted fibers or threads
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
deductionsnounUS /dɪˈdʌkʃənz/
plural of “deduction” — a reduction in the gross amount on which a tax is calculated; reduces taxes by the percentage fixed for the taxpayer's income bracket
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
DusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
EgyptiannounUS /ɪˈdʒɪpʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Egypt
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
endeavouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
Ferrara's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
IVORYnounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
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 Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His reflections served only to confuse his mind.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
not one, and not any
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
and nothing more
From this reading His reflections served only to confuse his mind.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
puzzleverbUS /ˈpʌzəl/
be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading His reflections served only to confuse his mind.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading His reflections served only to confuse his mind.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
tangibleadjectiveUS /ˈtændʒəbəl/
perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
From this reading A tangible clue lay upon the table before him--the silken cord.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading But it was a clue of such a nature that, whatever deductions an expert detective might have based upon it, Robert Cairn could base none.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Dusk was not far off, and he knew that his nerves were not what they had been before those events which had led to his Egyptian journey.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE IVORY HAND For close upon an hour Robert Cairn sat at his writing-table, endeavouring to puzzle out a solution to the mystery of Ferrara's motive.
