used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
the state of being absent
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
any thing at all
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
bargainnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading That was not in the bargain with Foyle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
divulgedverbUS /dɪˈvʌldʒd/
past form of “divulge” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
Fairfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
Foyle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was not in the bargain with Foyle.
Foyle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
Grell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
Heldon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
investigationnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃən/
an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
not any; not one
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That was not in the bargain with Foyle.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
and nothing more
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
perturbationnounUS /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃən/
an unhappy and worried mental state
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
RobertsnounUS /ˈrɑːbərts/
United States biochemist (born in England) honored for his discovery that some genes contain introns (born in 1943)
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
ScotlandnounUS /ˈskɑːtlənd/
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But that his breath came a little faster, Fairfield gave no sign of the perturbation that Heldon Foyle's presence caused him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading It was quite impossible to allow Grell's visit to him to be used in the investigation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The only question was whether Roberts had divulged anything to the detective during his absence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That was not in the bargain with Foyle.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading That the summons to Scotland Yard had been a pretext to get him out of the way was now obvious.
