used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
Detective-Inspector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
drummedverbUS /drʌmd/
inflected form of “drum” — make a rhythmic sound
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
Foyle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
Heldon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
be the source of pain
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
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 Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
non-committal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
subordinateadjectiveUS /səˈbɔːrdəneɪt/
lower in rank or importance
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
in the direction of
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Heldon Foyle was on his feet in a second, and he pushed a chair towards his subordinate.
Waverley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Detective-Inspector Waverley sat down and drummed nervously on his knees with the fingers of his left hand.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you.
you've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, you've got back," said the superintendent in a non-committal tone.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading I hope that arm of yours is not badly hurt.
