used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He recognized them as being parts of the top of a telegraph blank.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He recognized them as being parts of the top of a telegraph blank.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading He recognized them as being parts of the top of a telegraph blank.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
clewnoun
a ball of yarn or cord or thread
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
DallasnounUS /ˈdæləs/
a large commercial and industrial city in northeastern Texas located in the heart of the northern Texas oil fields
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
dejectedlyadverb
in a dejected manner
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
the organ of sight
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
the local environment
From this reading He recognized them as being parts of the top of a telegraph blank.
printingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading He recognized them as being parts of the top of a telegraph blank.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
SheridannounUS /ˈʃerɪdən/
Irish playwright remembered for his satirical comedies of manners (1751-1816)
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading He recognized them as being parts of the top of a telegraph blank.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
the upper part of anything
From this reading He recognized them as being parts of the top of a telegraph blank.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
waste-paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
at the time that
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
whereaboutsnounUS /ˈwerəbaʊts/
the general location where something is
From this reading Convinced now of the girl’s guilt, Owen Sheridan was walking dejectedly out of the room, when suddenly he remembered that he had not carried out his intention of searching for some clew as to Dallas’ whereabouts.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He returned to the waste-paper basket, which was half full of litter, and emptied its contents on the floor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some fragments of paper with blue printing on them caught his eye.
