Chapter XVI · A Hot Scent

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

be able to spare or give up

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

an occurrence of something

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

rid of obstructions

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

carefully weighed

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

the act of discovering something

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

an act that fails

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

of the present time and place

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

a quantity that is added

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

a search for knowledge

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

a high ranking police officer

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

plural of “issue” — an important question that is in dispute and must be settled

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

take somebody somewhere

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

something that is lost

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

past form of “lunch” — take the midday meal

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

a female domestic

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

engage in

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

not any; not one

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

continue talking

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

with speed

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Nothing would be easier than to spend time on side issues, and in this case a few hours might make all the difference between success and failure.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

the act of drawing a plan or diagram or outline

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

not necessary

From this reading The lady had already had five days’ start, and he could not afford to allow her to increase her lead by a single unnecessary minute.

mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

during the time that

From this reading He considered the matter while he lunched, eventually concluding that the first step was the discovery of the maid, Susan Scott.

in the company of; together with

From this reading INSPECTOR FRENCH had now so many points of attack in his inquiry that he felt somewhat at a loss as to which he should proceed with first.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.