used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
asylumnounUS /əˈsaɪləm/
a shelter from danger or hardship
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
bookingnounUS /ˈbʊkɪŋ/
employment for performers or performing groups that lasts for a limited period of time
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
connectingverbUS /kəˈnektɪŋ/
-ing form of “connect” — connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
cordnounUS /kɔːrd/
a line made of twisted fibers or threads
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
counselsnounUS /ˈkaʊnsəlz/
plural of “counsel” — a lawyer who pleads cases in court
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was a pretty kettle of fish!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
keepernounUS /ˈkiːpər/
someone in charge of other people
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
KETTLEnounUS /ˈketəl/
a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
From this reading A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
roused to anger
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
a particular point in time
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
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 And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
immediately following in time or order
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
passenger'snounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/
possessive form of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
peepedverbUS /piːpt/
past form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH!
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
red-bearded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
seriousnessnounUS /ˈsɪriəsnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
create by training and teaching
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
unimportantadjectiveUS /ənɪmˈpɔːrtənt/
not important
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
vanishverbUS /ˈvænɪʃ/
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here was a pretty kettle of fish!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And first I had to ask myself what could be the red-bearded passenger’s motive for booking to London, and then suddenly changing his plans and getting out at an unimportant country station?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading For the first desperate moment wild thoughts of pulling the connecting cord and stopping the train peeped in my brain like the mad faces seen at the windows of an asylum.
wiseradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzər/
comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But as the mad faces vanish at the return of the keeper, so in the next moment wiser counsels prevailed and I was considering the situation with the seriousness which the facts demanded.
