used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
ConstablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading How had he done it?
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
HobbsnounUS /hɑːbz/
notable English cricketer (1882-1963)
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How had he done it?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
involuntaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading What magic was there in this old man’s vision that was lacking in his own?
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading What magic was there in this old man’s vision that was lacking in his own?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading What magic was there in this old man’s vision that was lacking in his own?
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading What magic was there in this old man’s vision that was lacking in his own?
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
riddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
solvedadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
in or at that place or location
From this reading What magic was there in this old man’s vision that was lacking in his own?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Not two minutes had he been in the room, and the tone of his involuntary exclamation announced that he had solved the riddle.
a vivid mental image
From this reading What magic was there in this old man’s vision that was lacking in his own?
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was apparent to him that this strange old man had read the secret and method of the murder at a glance.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What magic was there in this old man’s vision that was lacking in his own?
at the time that
From this reading WHEN Constable Hobbs had seen his visitors safely out of the house he returned to the room of the crime full of thought.
