used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
Ackworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
AnthonynounUS /ˈænθəni/
Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)
From this reading "Who must have known?" asked Anthony, quickly.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Who must have known?" asked Anthony, quickly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
Clarice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
Clarke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
cold-bloodedadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldˈblʌdəd/
without compunction or human feeling
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
dishonourableadjective
lacking honor or integrity; deserving dishonor
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
extravagantadjectiveUS /ekˈstrævəɡənt/
unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
forgivenverbUS /fərˈɡɪvən/
inflected form of “forgive” — stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "He must have known what Frank was," said: Clarice, involuntarily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
involuntarilyadverbUS /ˌɪnvoʊˈlʌntərɪli/
against your will
From this reading "He must have known what Frank was," said: Clarice, involuntarily.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
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 She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading "He must have known what Frank was," said: Clarice, involuntarily.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
murderernounUS /ˈmɜːrdərər/
a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "He must have known what Frank was," said: Clarice, involuntarily.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
not any; not one
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
pardoningverbUS /ˈpɑːrdənɪŋ/
-ing form of “pardon” — accept an excuse for
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
prodigalnounUS /ˈprɑːdɪɡəl/
a recklessly extravagant consumer
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
with speed
From this reading "Who must have known?" asked Anthony, quickly.
rascalnounUS /ˈræskəl/
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "He must have known what Frank was," said: Clarice, involuntarily.
only a very short time before
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
a male human offspring
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
unmitigatedadjectiveUS /ənˈmɪtəɡeɪtɪd/
not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
vicarnounUS /ˈvɪkər/
a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The announcement of Ackworth was so terrible, and so unexpected, that Clarice could scarcely believe her ears.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "He must have known what Frank was," said: Clarice, involuntarily.
which person or people
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading No wonder the vicar, who had forgiven much to his prodigal son, had stopped short of finally pardoning such an unmitigated scoundrel.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She knew that Frank Clarke was a rascal and extravagant, that he was selfish and dishonourable, but it never entered her head that he would turn out to be a cold-blooded murderer.
