used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
accusednounUS /əˈkjuːzd/
a defendant in a criminal proceeding
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
Barker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading And Carroll did believe.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
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 And Carroll did believe.
Carroll'snounUS /ˈkærəlz/
possessive form of “carroll” — 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's interest--however platonic--was intensely personal.
cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And Carroll did believe.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
expandedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspændəd/
increased in extent or size or bulk or scope
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
futilelyadverb
in a futile and unproductive manner
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
housedverbUS /haʊzd/
past form of “house” — contain or cover
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Carroll's interest--however platonic--was intensely personal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading Carroll's interest--however platonic--was intensely personal.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Carroll's interest--however platonic--was intensely personal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
mantelnounUS /ˈmæntəl/
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
mentallyadverbUS /ˈmentəli/
in your mind
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
on one occasion
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading Carroll's interest--however platonic--was intensely personal.
platonicadjectiveUS /pləˈtɑːnɪk/
of or relating to or characteristic of Plato or his philosophy
From this reading Carroll's interest--however platonic--was intensely personal.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
puncturedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌŋktʃərd/
having a hole cut through
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
reverberatedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrbəreɪtɪd/
past form of “reverberate” — ring or echo with sound
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
cut with a saw
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
scintillanounUS /sɪnˈtɪlə/
a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
threshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
tickingnounUS /ˈtɪkɪŋ/
a metallic tapping sound
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The accused man looked eagerly upon the faces of the two detectives; then, slowly, his chest expanded with relief: he saw that they believed him.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--" Barker's words reverberated through the room--to be succeeded by an almost unnatural stillness; a silence punctured by the ticking of the cheap clock on the mantel, by the crackling of the flames in the grate, by the whistling of the wind around the corners of the gaunt gray stone building which housed the police department.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was not that he wanted to--he had fought himself mentally away from that conviction time after time; had threshed over every scintilla of evidence, searching futilely for something which would clear this radiant woman whom he had met but once.
