used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
advertisementnounUS /ædˈvɜːrtəzmənt/
a public promotion of some product or service
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
animatedadjectiveUS /ˈænəmeɪtɪd/
having life or vigor or spirit
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
annoyancenounUS /əˈnɔɪəns/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
astronomernounUS /əˈstrɑːnəmər/
a physicist who studies astronomy
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
cometnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
gotten under control
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
being one more than seven
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
ejaculationnounUS /iˌdʒækjuːˈleɪʃən/
an abrupt emphatic exclamation expressing emotion
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
emotionaladjectiveUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl/
determined or actuated by emotion rather than reason
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
finger-nails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
finger-prints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
Foyle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
gingerlyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɪndʒərli/
with extreme care or delicacy
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
graphitenounUS /ˈɡræfaɪt/
used as a lubricant and as a moderator in nuclear reactors
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
Grell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
Heldon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
the force of workers available
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
a person who carries a message
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
not any; not one
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
a brief written record
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
outwardlyadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdli/
with respect to the outside
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
scientistnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪst/
a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
square-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
suppressedadjectiveUS /səˈprest/
kept from public knowledge by various means
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
testedadjectiveUS /ˈtestɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He drew out the sheet of paper gingerly between his finger-nails, and tested it with graphite.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
a Caucasian
From this reading Eight or nine finger-prints, some blurred, some plain, appeared black against the white surface, and he gave an ejaculation of annoyance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was with an eagerness sternly suppressed that Heldon Foyle took from a messenger the note which he knew contained Grell's advertisement.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Although outwardly he was the least emotional of men, he always worked at high tension in the investigation of a case.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading No astronomer could discover a new comet, no scientist a new element with greater delight than that which animated the square-faced detective while he was working on a case.
