used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
acidadjectiveUS /ˈæsəd/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
anew
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
being joined in close association
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
bewildermentnounUS /bɪˈwɪldərmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
chemistnounUS /ˈkemɪst/
a scientist who specializes in chemistry
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
ClintonnounUS /ˈklɪntən/
wife of President Clinton and later a woman member of the United States Senate (1947-)
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
Croft-Thornton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
Flamborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
set up or found
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
InstituteverbUS /ˈɪnstətuːt/
set up or lay the groundwork for
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
JacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
engage in
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
Markfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
not any; not one
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
on one occasion
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
and nothing more
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
picric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
having a point
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
preliminariesnounUS /prɪˈlɪməneriz/
plural of “preliminary” — a minor match preceding the main event
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
producingverbUS /prəˈduːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
shrednounUS /ʃred/
a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
term of address for a man
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
stainnounUS /steɪn/
a soiled or discolored appearance
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
tingenounUS /tɪndʒ/
a slight but appreciable amount
From this reading “It seems to be a button and a bit of cloth with a picric acid stain on it,” he pointed out with a tinge of irony.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Markfield examined the object carefully, but his face showed only a certain bewilderment when he looked up at the Inspector again.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
at the time that
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Flamborough wasted no time in preliminaries, but plunged at once into the business which had brought him there.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The Jacket Sir Clinton and the Inspector found Markfield at work in his laboratory when they reached the Croft-Thornton Institute.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What do you make of that, Dr. Markfield?” he demanded, producing the shred of cloth with the button attached and showing them to the chemist.
