used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
the state of being absent
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
anticipatedadjectiveUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading "Have they caught the man?" he demanded anxiously.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The news was as horrible as it was unexpected.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
blackmailverbUS /ˈblækmeɪl/
exert pressure on someone through threats
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "Have they caught the man?" he demanded anxiously.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Have they caught the man?" he demanded anxiously.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
divisible by two
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading With a gasp he pulled himself together.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Have they caught the man?" he demanded anxiously.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading With a gasp he pulled himself together.
provoking horror
From this reading The news was as horrible as it was unexpected.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The news was as horrible as it was unexpected.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Have they caught the man?" he demanded anxiously.
methodsnounUS /ˈmeθədz/
plural of “method” — a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The news was as horrible as it was unexpected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
a human being
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading With a gasp he pulled himself together.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
SpidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
Spider's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
carry out
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The news was as horrible as it was unexpected.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Have they caught the man?" he demanded anxiously.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading With a gasp he pulled himself together.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading The news was as horrible as it was unexpected.
Vernon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The news was as horrible as it was unexpected.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a gasp he pulled himself together.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods.
