used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Shrewd as Nick was, he had not expected this.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
fearless and daring
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a moment's reflection made this seem less probable.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
challengeverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Shrewd as Nick was, he had not expected this.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
set up or found
From this reading HOW NICK FOUND THE JEWELS.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Shrewd as Nick was, he had not expected this.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW NICK FOUND THE JEWELS.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading HOW NICK FOUND THE JEWELS.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading But a moment's reflection made this seem less probable.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But a moment's reflection made this seem less probable.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
a particular point in time
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
moment'snounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
possessive form of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading But a moment's reflection made this seem less probable.
nervyadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvi/
being in a tense state
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
NICKverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading HOW NICK FOUND THE JEWELS.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Shrewd as Nick was, he had not expected this.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
participate in games or sport
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading But a moment's reflection made this seem less probable.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
recklessnessnounUS /ˈrekləsnəs/
the trait of giving little thought to danger
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading But a moment's reflection made this seem less probable.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But a moment's reflection made this seem less probable.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
ShrewdadjectiveUS /ʃruːd/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading Shrewd as Nick was, he had not expected this.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOW NICK FOUND THE JEWELS.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
precisely as stated
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Shrewd as Nick was, he had not expected this.
at the time that
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
which person or people
From this reading His first thought, as the reader knows, was that it was a bold challenge, the defiance of a nervy criminal who thought himself absolutely safe from detection.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly looked like sheer recklessness for this thief, whoever he might be, to play his game on Nick almost at the very moment when the great detective appeared upon the scene.
