Chapter XXI · A Possible Clue

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading We think it’s a clue.”

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “A clue about Little Bodil _here_ in Dad’s study?”

from one side of something to the other

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “A clue about Little Bodil _here_ in Dad’s study?”

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

a slight indication

From this reading We think it’s a clue.”

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

possessive form of “dad” — an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading “A clue about Little Bodil _here_ in Dad’s study?”

someone who is a detective

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

divisible by two

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

(of persons) excessively affected by emotion

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

set up or found

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

possessive form of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “A clue about Little Bodil _here_ in Dad’s study?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We think it’s a clue.”

offensive term for a person of German descent

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading We think it’s a clue.”

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We think it’s a clue.”

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Her olive-tinted face told Mary that something had happened even before Jerry exclaimed: “Little Sister, come here and see what Dick has found.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading At five, which was the invalid’s supper hour, Mary emerged from the living-room and heard excited voices from behind the closed door of her father’s study across the hall.

which person or people

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Dora, who had been listening for her friend’s footsteps, threw the door wide.