used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
accordancenounUS /əˈkɔːrdəns/
concurrence of opinion
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
admissionsnounUS /ædˈmɪʃənz/
plural of “admission” — the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
assistingverbUS /əˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “assist” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
belittledadjectiveUS /bɪˈlɪtəld/
made to seem smaller or less (especially in worth)
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
an occurrence of something
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
cherishedadjectiveUS /ˈtʃerɪʃt/
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
Colwyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
coupledadjectiveUS /ˈkʌpəld/
joined together especially in a pair or pairs
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
damagingadjectiveUS /ˈdæmɪdʒɪŋ/
(sometimes followed by “to”) causing harm or injury
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
detective'snounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
possessive form of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
discoveriesnounUS /dɪˈskʌvəriz/
plural of “discovery” — the act of discovering something
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
Durrington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
enforcedadjectiveUS /enˈfɔːrst/
forced or compelled or put in force
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
falterverbUS /ˈfɔːltər/
be unsure or weak
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
Glenthorpe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
only a very short time before
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
the quality of innocent naivete
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
investigationsnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃənz/
plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
overturenounUS /ˈoʊvərtʃər/
orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
Queensmead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
relinquishverbUS /rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/
part with a possession or right
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
respondverbUS /rɪˈspɑːnd/
show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
Ronald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
Ronald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
tacitadjectiveUS /ˈtæsɪt/
implied by or inferred from actions or statements
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ronald's strange silence after his arrest decided Colwyn to relinquish his investigations and return to Durrington.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, instead of doing so, Ronald had taken up an attitude which was suspicious in the highest degree, and one which caused the detective to falter in his belief that the Glenthorpe murder case was a much deeper mystery than the police imagined.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Ronald's attitude, by its accordance with the facts previously known or believed about the case, belittled the detective's own discoveries, and caused him to come to the conclusion that it was hardly worth while to go farther into it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In assisting Queensmead in his search Colwyn had cherished the hope that Ronald, if captured, would declare his innocence and gladly respond to his overture of help.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading His tacit admissions, coupled with the damaging evidence against him, enforced conviction in the young man's guilt in spite of the detective's previous belief to the contrary.
