prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
Barry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
an occurrence of something
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
chagrinnounUS /ʃəˈɡrɪn/
strong feelings of embarrassment
From this reading He laughed at the detective’s chagrin, and said, “Nothing doing, Prescott.
ConfessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
deduceverbUS /dɪˈduːs/
reason by deduction; establish by deduction
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
detective'snounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
possessive form of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading He laughed at the detective’s chagrin, and said, “Nothing doing, Prescott.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading He laughed at the detective’s chagrin, and said, “Nothing doing, Prescott.
dragverbUS /dræɡ/
pull, as against a resistance
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He laughed at the detective’s chagrin, and said, “Nothing doing, Prescott.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading He laughed at the detective’s chagrin, and said, “Nothing doing, Prescott.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He laughed at the detective’s chagrin, and said, “Nothing doing, Prescott.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
PrescottnounUS /ˈpreskɑːt/
a town in central Arizona
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He laughed at the detective’s chagrin, and said, “Nothing doing, Prescott.
sketchedverbUS /sketʃt/
past form of “sketch” — make a sketch of
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
snatchverbUS /snætʃ/
to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading If not, I’d be mighty sorry to drag his name into it.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading Louis’ Confession Before Prescott could snatch at the paper picture to do so, Barry had torn the paper into bits and thrown them into the fire in the old-fashioned grate.
which person or people
From this reading “I deduce, then, that his name is not already in it,” Prescott returned; “in that case, I can guess who it is.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading If the man I sketched is the criminal, you must find it out for yourself.
