used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
ChicknounUS /tʃɪk/
young bird especially of domestic fowl
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
concentrateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪt/
make denser, stronger, or purer
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The dusk of the January afternoon had deepened into darkness.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading The dusk of the January afternoon had deepened into darkness.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
increase twofold
From this reading THE DOUBLE REFLECTION.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The dusk of the January afternoon had deepened into darkness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
many times at short intervals
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The dusk of the January afternoon had deepened into darkness.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading The dusk of the January afternoon had deepened into darkness.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
mystifyingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstəfaɪɪŋ/
of an obscure nature
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The dusk of the January afternoon had deepened into darkness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
PatsynounUS /ˈpætsi/
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
physicallyadverbUS /ˈfɪzɪkəli/
in accord with physical laws
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading THE DOUBLE REFLECTION.
relaxingadjectiveUS /rɪˈlæksɪŋ/
affording physical or mental rest
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
not in physical motion
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DOUBLE REFLECTION.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nick Carter was alone in his library at five o’clock that afternoon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
at the time that
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
wishingnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/
a specific feeling of desire
From this reading As he frequently did when wishing to concentrate his mind upon a difficult problem, Nick had stretched himself on the library couch, relaxing physically, as an aid to his mental operations.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Both Chick and Patsy still were absent and at work on the mystifying case.
