prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
react verbally
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
detective'snounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
possessive form of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
ejaculated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “For goodness’ sake, sir!” she ejaculated, starting in surprise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “For goodness’ sake, sir!” she ejaculated, starting in surprise.
set up or found
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading “For goodness’ sake, sir!” she ejaculated, starting in surprise.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN NICK’S SHOES.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
NICK'SnounUS /nɪks/
possessive form of “nick” — an impression in a surface (as made by a blow)
From this reading IN NICK’S SHOES.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
orderingnounUS /ˈɔːrdərɪŋ/
logical or comprehensible arrangement of separate elements
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
PetersnounUS /ˈpiːtərz/
plural of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading “For goodness’ sake, sir!” she ejaculated, starting in surprise.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
a particular situation
From this reading IN NICK’S SHOES.
term of address for a man
From this reading “For goodness’ sake, sir!” she ejaculated, starting in surprise.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading “For goodness’ sake, sir!” she ejaculated, starting in surprise.
suppliesnounUS /səˈplaɪz/
plural of “supply” — an amount of something available for use
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
required or under orders
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading “For goodness’ sake, sir!” she ejaculated, starting in surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
tipnounUS /tɪp/
the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
at the time that
From this reading The butler happened to be out ordering supplies when the detective’s front bell rang, and, as Mrs. Peters, the housekeeper, was near the door, she answered it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the tip of her tongue she had the answer which she had already given to several inquiries—that the detective was out of town.
which person or people
From this reading Therefore, her amazement may be imagined when she found—as she supposed—that it was Nick himself who was outside.
