used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
accountsnounUS /əˈkaʊnts/
plural of “account” — a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
(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 All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
bank'snounUS /bæŋks/
possessive form of “bank” — sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading All believed quite naturally that the Invisible Master had done it!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
the act of discovering something
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading All believed quite naturally that the Invisible Master had done it!
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
Harkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
InvisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
immediately past
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
as might be expected
From this reading All believed quite naturally that the Invisible Master had done it!
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading All believed quite naturally that the Invisible Master had done it!
precisely, exactly
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
cut with a saw
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
and nothing more
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
a person, without saying who
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
speculatingverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
stammering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
stocksnounUS /stɑːks/
a frame that supports a boat while it is under construction
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
tellernounUS /ˈtelər/
United States physicist (born in Hungary) who worked on the first atom bomb and the first hydrogen bomb (1908-2003)
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
Vance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading All around him people were talking of the Invisible Master and of what he could do, and Harkness saw in that an idea, grasped at it as at a last straw.
at the time that
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
which person or people
From this reading He arranged his accounts to show right when it was over, then on that afternoon simply cried out and gave the alarm, stammering that the money had been taken by someone invisible who had snatched it from before him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been speculating in stocks, had lost thousands of the bank's money, and was desperate, with discovery near.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading From Beginning to End "The first was young Harkness, the teller at the Vance National.
