used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
from appearances alone
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
CARROLLnounUS /ˈkærəl/
English author; Charles Dodgson was an Oxford don of mathematics who is remembered for the children's stories he wrote under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
an occurrence of something
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
detective'snounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
possessive form of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
H-m
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "H-m!" rejoined the practical Leverage.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
LeveragenounUS /ˈlevərɪdʒ/
the mechanical advantage gained by being in a position to use a lever
From this reading "H-m!" rejoined the practical Leverage.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
murderedadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərd/
killed unlawfully
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
not any; not one
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
many times at short intervals
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading "H-m!" rejoined the practical Leverage.
quizzicaladjectiveUS /ˈkwɪzəkəl/
playfully vexing (especially by ridicule)
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
past form of “rejoin” — join again
From this reading "H-m!" rejoined the practical Leverage.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
simpleradjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpələr/
comparative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
someone who visits
From this reading CARROLL HAS A VISITOR Carroll gazed intently upon the face of the dead man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a half quizzical light in the detective's eyes as he spoke, apparently to no one.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I've often thought," he said, "in a case like this, how much simpler things would be if the murdered man could talk."
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he could, he wouldn't be dead."
