47
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “MYSTERY 47.”
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
bureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
complyverbUS /kəmˈplaɪ/
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
being joined in close association
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
conveniencenounUS /kənˈviːnjəns/
the state of being suitable or opportune
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
at any time
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading The inspector looked worried as he greeted Nick in his private room at headquarters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
inspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
and nothing more
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The inspector looked worried as he greeted Nick in his private room at headquarters.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading “MYSTERY 47.”
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading The inspector looked worried as he greeted Nick in his private room at headquarters.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
express the need or desire for
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The inspector looked worried as he greeted Nick in his private room at headquarters.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
strangestadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪndʒɪst/
superlative of “strange” — being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The request came from the inspector in charge of the detective bureau, and Nick hastened to comply, as Inspector Ward was an old and tried friend.
at the time that
From this reading Nick had just concluded the preceding case, when he received a request to come down to police headquarters at his earliest convenience.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Nick,” said the inspector, getting right down to business, “this is undoubtedly the strangest case that has ever come to the attention of the department, at least while I have been connected with it.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading The inspector looked worried as he greeted Nick in his private room at headquarters.
