used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I say, Inspector, here’s a puzzle,” he cried.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I see it is unlocked.”
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “I say, Inspector, here’s a puzzle,” he cried.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
set up or found
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I say, Inspector, here’s a puzzle,” he cried.
here's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, Inspector, here’s a puzzle,” he cried.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I say, Inspector, here’s a puzzle,” he cried.
imprintedverbUS /ˌɪmˈprɪntɪd/
past form of “imprint” — establish or impress firmly in the mind
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
located inward
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But I see it is unlocked.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
fasten with a lock
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
a form of address for a man
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
mystificationnoun
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
OrchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
puzzleverbUS /ˈpʌzəl/
be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading “I say, Inspector, here’s a puzzle,” he cried.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
express in words
From this reading “I say, Inspector, here’s a puzzle,” he cried.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But I see it is unlocked.”
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought at first it had been broken or forced or the lock somehow picked.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I happened to look behind the safe door, and I find it has been opened with a key.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading But I see it is unlocked.”
usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/
past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WHEN Inspector French ushered the clerk, Orchard, into the inner office, they found Mr. Duke pacing the floor with an expression of utter mystification imprinted on his features.
