used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
appliedadjectiveUS /əˈplaɪd/
concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had forty-eight hours before him.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
brutaladjectiveUS /ˈbruːtəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
an occurrence of something
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
chasingverbUS /ˈtʃeɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “chase” — go after with the intent to catch
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
dragnetnounUS /ˈdræɡnet/
a system of coordinated measures for apprehending (criminals or other individuals)
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
forty-eightadjective
being eight more than forty
From this reading He had forty-eight hours before him.
FREYBERGER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
Gyde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had forty-eight hours before him.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had forty-eight hours before him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had forty-eight hours before him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He had forty-eight hours before him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
jarverbUS /dʒɑːr/
be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
and nothing more
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
mechanismnounUS /ˈmekənɪzəm/
the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
mothnounUS /mɔːθ/
typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He shuddered to think of the brutal method of a dragnet search being applied to the Gyde case.
tongsnounUS /tɑːŋz/
any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
virtuallyadverbUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːəli/
in essence or effect but not in fact
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FREYBERGER was now virtually in charge of the case.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be like chasing a moth with a pair of tongs.
but in spite of that
From this reading He felt about the case just as an engineer feels about some delicate piece of mechanism, which has not yet been put in position, and which any jar or shock may destroy.
