used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PUZZLE TO SOLVE.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
any thing at all
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
claimingverbUS /ˈkleɪmɪŋ/
-ing form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
a female human offspring
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
a young female
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
mentallyadverbUS /ˈmentəli/
in your mind
From this reading While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
and nothing more
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
PUZZLEverbUS /ˈpʌzəl/
be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading A PUZZLE TO SOLVE.
relationshipnounUS /riˈleɪʃənʃɪp/
a relation between people; (“relationship” is often used where “relation” would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of “relationship” is for human relations or states of relatedness)
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
express in words
From this reading While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally.
SOLVEverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading A PUZZLE TO SOLVE.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A PUZZLE TO SOLVE.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reply given by the girl was as complete a surprise as anything the detective had listened to.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And what he said was: “The presence of this girl is another of the threads of this mystery!”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Only a minute before he had been told that it was not known whether this daughter was in existence, and now she was here claiming relationship.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Nick did not say anything aloud, he did so mentally.
