used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
in the past
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
bewildermentnounUS /bɪˈwɪldərmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
captive's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
increase twofold
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
one or the other of two
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
opinion or judgment
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
a boy or man
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
hauntingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
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 Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
painedadjectiveUS /peɪnd/
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
in or at or to some place
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
in a strange manner
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
StudyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Studying them, Red decided he had seen the fellow—or his double—somewhere, and not so long ago!
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was something hauntingly familiar, too, about the man’s face and build.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the first chance either Don or Red had had to examine their captive’s features.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Strangely enough, they were not those of a criminal.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If it had not been for the man’s wildly staring eyes and look of pained bewilderment, they would have been almost handsome.
