used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
(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 They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
BrackennounUS /ˈbrækən/
fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "FIRE!"
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
Garthorne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/
having or manifesting hope
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
hotelsnounUS /hoʊˈtelz/
plural of “hotel” — a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
Kennington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
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 The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
lodging-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
Marion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
the force of workers available
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
a particular point in time
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
policemennounUS /pəˈliːsmɪn/
plural of “policeman” — a member of a police force
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had made inquiries at all the lodging-houses and hotels in the district, and had discovered absolutely nothing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
a just detectable amount
From this reading The local men had not been able to find a single trace of Marion after the moment she left, the house in Garthorne Street.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hour after hour went by that day, and although Bracken came back three times from Kennington, he brought nothing new.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They, of course, were hopeful; policemen and private detectives always are.
