the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
attachverbUS /əˈtætʃ/
cause to be attached
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
Chu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
chucklenounUS /ˈtʃʌkəl/
a soft partly suppressed laugh
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
Commissioner'snounUS /kəˈmɪʃənərz/
possessive form of “commissioner” — a government administrator
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
EmbankmentnounUS /emˈbæŋkmənt/
a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
set up or found
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
investigatingnounUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtɪŋ/
the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
inwardadjectiveUS /ˈɪnwərd/
relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
learntverbUS /lɜːrnt/
inflected form of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
LingnounUS /lɪŋ/
water chestnut whose spiny fruit has two rather than 4 prongs
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
Lyne's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
meagreadjective
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
the force of workers available
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
MISSINGadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
murderedadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərd/
killed unlawfully
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
and nothing more
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
poeticadjectiveUS /poʊˈetɪk/
of or relating to poetry
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
polishingnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃɪŋ/
the work of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing or waxing it
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
REVOLVERnounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
ScotlandnounUS /ˈskɑːtlənd/
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
sunlitadjectiveUS /ˈsʌnlɪt/
lighted by sunlight
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
believed likely
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading That suspicion should attach to him was, he told himself, poetic justice, for in his day he himself had suspected many men, innocent or partly innocent.
Tarling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
Tarling's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
ThorntonnounUS /ˈθɔːrntən/
American architect (1759-1828)
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
a source of difficulty
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He walked up the stairs to his room and found Ling Chu polishing the meagre stock of silver which Tarling possessed.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
at the time that
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
in or at the place that
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
which person or people
From this reading The queer little look which had dawned on the Commissioner's face when he learnt that the heir to the murdered Thornton Lyne's fortune was the detective who was investigating his murder, and that Tarling's revolver had been found in the room where the murder had been committed, aroused nothing but an inward chuckle.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading He told himself that the case was getting beyond him and that it was only the case and its development which worried him.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading THE MISSING REVOLVER Tarling walked out of Scotland Yard on to the sunlit Embankment, trouble in his face.
