used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DASTARDLY TRICK.
abductionnounUS /æbˈdʌkʃən/
the criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member; if a man's wife is abducted it is a crime against the family relationship and against the wife
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
anew
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
Anton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
assertionnounUS /əˈsɜːrʃən/
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
ball-grounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
ball-team
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
CarsonnounUS /ˈkɑːrsən/
United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
DASTARDLYadjectiveUS /ˈdæstərdli/
despicably cowardly
From this reading A DASTARDLY TRICK.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
without deviation
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
Elrich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
a movement into or inward
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
communicated in words
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
set up or found
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
the act of giving
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
Merry's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
Mescalnoun
a small spineless globe-shaped cactus; source of mescal buttons
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
Metropole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
offendernounUS /əˈfendər/
a person who transgresses moral or civil law
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
sinceritynounUS /sɪnˈserəti/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading A DASTARDLY TRICK.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The police fancied Mescal was an old offender under another name, and promised to do their best to lay hands on him.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
at the time that
From this reading When Merry reached the Hotel Metropole he found that something had happened.
in or at the place that
From this reading Frank went directly from the ball-grounds to police headquarters, where he told of the attempted abduction of Dick, giving a full description of Anton Mescal, and entering complaint against the man.
which person or people
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mr. Carson had again encountered Black Elrich, who had expressed a doubt concerning his sincerity in the assertion that he would back Merry’s ball-team.
