used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He subjected the handkerchief to a most careful scrutiny.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading He subjected the handkerchief to a most careful scrutiny.
an occurrence of something
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading Twice this morning previously these initials had confronted him.
the act of discovering something
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
Doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading He subjected the handkerchief to a most careful scrutiny.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
of great significance or value
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
initialsnounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃəlz/
plural of “initial” — the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)
From this reading Twice this morning previously these initials had confronted him.
investigationsnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃənz/
plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
immediately past
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
Lennox
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
Marjorie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
MinceverbUS /mɪns/
make less severe or harsh
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
a particular point in time
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Twice this morning previously these initials had confronted him.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He subjected the handkerchief to a most careful scrutiny.
in motion
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading Twice this morning previously these initials had confronted him.
scrutinynounUS /ˈskruːtəni/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading He subjected the handkerchief to a most careful scrutiny.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
subjectedverbUS /səbˈdʒektɪd/
past form of “subject” — cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to
From this reading He subjected the handkerchief to a most careful scrutiny.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marjorie Lennox Doesn’t Mince Matters The Sergeant felt hope surging in his breast.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Twice this morning previously these initials had confronted him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
two times
From this reading Twice this morning previously these initials had confronted him.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This “M. L.,” whoever it might be, had undoubtedly an important bearing on the case.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading Up to this moment his investigations had yielded little, but this sudden discovery, he felt, had at last set him moving.
