used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had now but to find the man.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
being joined in close association
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
culpritnounUS /ˈkʌlprɪt/
someone who perpetrates wrongdoing
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He had now but to find the man.
firebugnounUS /ˈfaɪərbʌɡ/
a criminal who illegally sets fire to property
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
hook-nosedadjective
having an aquiline nose
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
novelistnounUS /ˈnɑːvələst/
one who writes novels
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had now but to find the man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
pink-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
tenselyadverbUS /ˈtensli/
in a tense manner
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had now but to find the man.
unbreakableadjectiveUS /ənˈbreɪkəbəl/
impossible to break especially under ordinary usage
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Having long since abandoned the theory that the pink-eyed man was the firebug, he had fastened upon the hook-nosed man as the real culprit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Johnny was up against the most puzzling problem of his whole life.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With this in mind, he had connected past events into an almost unbreakable chain of circumstances.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A tensely dramatic situation, a novelist would have called it.
