used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
in addition
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
from appearances alone
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
BombshellnounUS /ˈbɑːmʃel/
an entertainer who has a sensational effect
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
BurstsnounUS /bɜːrsts/
plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
conspiratorsnounUS /kənˈspɪrətərz/
plural of “conspirator” — a member of a conspiracy
From this reading The conspirators’ uneasiness grew.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
Doyle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
Duffley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
establishverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
set up or found
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
FosterverbUS /ˈfɑːstər/
promote the growth of
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The conspirators’ uneasiness grew.
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
a message received and understood
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
a female domestic
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
mysteriouslyadverbUS /ˌmɪˈstɪriəsli/
in a cryptic manner
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
and nothing more
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
PriestleynounUS /ˈpriːstli/
English chemist who isolated many gases and discovered oxygen (independently of Scheele) (1733-1804)
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
rackingadjectiveUS /ˈrækɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
not in physical motion
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Apparently Mr. Foster, still under arrest, was being held for some obscure reason.
uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/
feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable
From this reading The conspirators’ uneasiness grew.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Guy and Mr. Doyle, racking their brains in vain, were able to establish only one definite fact: Mr. Foster remained mysteriously absent from his home.
which person or people
From this reading Mrs. Foster, added the maid who gave them this information, was also absent.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Mr. Priestley Bursts a Bombshell For two whole days’ time, in so far as the Duffley mystery was concerned, stood still.
