used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
equally
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
(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 And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
Blick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
Blick's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
DEVIL'SnounUS /ˈdevəlz/
possessive form of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
GRIPnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
guess-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
guessworknounUS /ˈɡeswɜːrk/
an estimate based on little or no information
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
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 And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
much-wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
revelationnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
RopernounUS /ˈroʊpər/
a decoy who lures customers into a gambling establishment (especially one with a fixed game)
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well?” he said.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
side-glancenoun
a glance sideways
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
tangibleadjectiveUS /ˈtændʒəbəl/
perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
walking-cane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Blick’s brain was busy with a queer, confused doubt.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
(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?” he said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
showing curiosity
From this reading Roper talked of guesswork, and it was not guess-work that Blick wanted; he was wondering what Roper meant by guess-work.
woodmannounUS /ˈwʊdmən/
someone who lives in the woods
From this reading THE DEVIL’S GRIP The Professor, leaning forward on his walking-cane, and the detective, watching the woodman with a sharp side-glance, alike felt that they were on the verge of a revelation.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet—for all they knew, they might at that instant be within tangible distance of the much-wanted truth.
