used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
accentuateverbUS /ækˈsentʃuːeɪt/
to stress, single out as important
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading “Will the murderer confess?”
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
deliberationnounUS /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃən/
(usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
FletchernounUS /ˈfletʃər/
prolific English dramatist who collaborated with Francis Beaumont and many other dramatists (1579-1625)
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
intense and profound fear
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
a particular point in time
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
murderernounUS /ˈmɜːrdərər/
a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading “Will the murderer confess?”
not any; not one
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
shedsnounUS /ʃedz/
plural of “shed” — an outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage
From this reading “All that we have heard sheds no light on the actual crime at all.”
SinclairnounUS /sɪnˈkler/
United States writer whose novels argued for social reform (1878-1968)
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
in the direction of
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
vacancynounUS /ˈveɪkənsi/
being unoccupied
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The Secret Out “I don’t see that we are any further towards the solution of the murder,” said Fletcher.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Will the murderer confess?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sinclair remained for a moment in thought, then he said slowly, and with great deliberation, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The sunlight outside seemed to accentuate the grim horror within, it was here that the crime had been committed, and the shadow of the dead man was almost visible to their eyes of imagination.
