used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
(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 Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
cluenounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
dapperadjectiveUS /ˈdæpər/
marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
emphasisnounUS /ˈemfəsəs/
special importance or significance
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wonder what this means,” he murmured.
inscriptionnounUS /ˌɪnˈskrɪpʃən/
letters inscribed (especially words engraved or carved) on something
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
set down according to a plan
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading “I wonder what this means,” he murmured.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading “I wonder what this means,” he murmured.
not any; not one
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
a brief written record
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
in the near future
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
proceedingsnounUS /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
on the contrary
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
express in words
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
term of address for a man
From this reading “Yes, sir.”
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I wonder what this means,” he murmured.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
the upper part of anything
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
undueadjectiveUS /ənˈduː/
not yet payable
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Victor took the envelope, studied the inscription, then held it up to the light, and, as all these proceedings gave him no clue as to the contents, he presently tore it open.
VictornounUS /ˈvɪktər/
a combatant who is able to defeat rivals
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “I wonder what this means,” he murmured.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “I wonder what this means,” he murmured.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The dapper hotel clerk laid a rather undue emphasis on the word “Sir.”--“Here it is.”
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, sir.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading UNDER THE BIG TOP “What’s that you say--a note for me?” queried Victor Collins.
