adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
audiencenounUS /ˈɑːdiəns/
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
bloodnounUS /blʌd/
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
blood-crystals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
callverbUS /kɔːl/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
chefnounUS /ʃef/
a professional cook
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
cluesnounUS /kluːz/
plural of “clue” — a slight indication
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
delicateadjectiveUS /ˈdeləkət/
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
electrifiedverbUS /ɪˈlektrəfaɪd/
inflected form of “electrify” — excite suddenly and intensely
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
fanciedadjectiveUS /ˈfænsid/
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
fingerprintsnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərprɪnts/
plural of “fingerprint” — a print made by an impression of the ridges in the skin of a finger; often used for biometric identification in criminal investigations
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
formnounUS /fɔːrm/
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
hemoglobinnounUS /ˌhiːməˈɡloʊbən/
a hemoprotein composed of globin and heme that gives red blood cells their characteristic color; function primarily to transport oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
identifyverbUS /aɪˈdentəfaɪ/
recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
KennedynounUS /ˈkenədi/
35th President of the United States; established the Peace Corps; assassinated in Dallas (1917-1963)
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/
being nothing more than specified
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
murderverbUS /ˈmɜːrdər/
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
PittsnounUS /pɪts/
plural of “pitt” — a British playwright who created the fictional character Sweeney Todd (1799-1855)
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
SamnounUS /sæm/
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
slightnounUS /slaɪt/
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
startverbUS /stɑːrt/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
trailnounUS /treɪl/
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading It was by means of these ‘hemoglobin clues,’ if I may call them so, that I was able to get on the right trail.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It seemed that the mere sound of his voice electrified his little audience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “There is,” he went on slowly, “a blood test so delicate that one might almost say that he could identify a criminal by his very blood-crystals—the fingerprints, so to speak, of his blood.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Let us go back to the very start of the case,” began Kennedy when we had all assembled, “the murder of the chef, Sam.”
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading I fancied a shudder passed over the slight form of Mrs. Pitts, as she must have realised that this was the point where Kennedy had left off, in his questioning her the night before.
