Chapter XX · Chapter 20

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

a youthful male person

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

eat an early morning meal

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

approval

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

placed crosswise

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

causing or capable of causing death

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

earlier in time; previously

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

one or the other of two

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

a person or firm that employs workers

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

at any time

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

the act of departing

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

an established custom

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

a slight suggestion or vague understanding

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

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 "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

the force of workers available

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

and nothing more

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

on the contrary

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

the display of a motion picture

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

not in physical motion

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes

From this reading As the submarine boy left the breakfast room he felt as much in the dark as ever.

-ing form of “suppose” — express a supposition

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading "This is rather earlier than either of that pair in the habit of showing themselves," muttered Benson, as the first two names crossed his thoughts.

a message informing of danger

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The only known spies who were still at large, for some reason known only to the Secret Service men, were M. Lemaire, Mlle. Nadiboff and Kamanako.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

which person or people

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."

in the company of; together with

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading "I wonder whether I could get the least bit of an inkling by going to the jail and talking with Gaston?

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading A BRIGHT LOOK AND A DEADLY WARNING Jack's employer gave him rather too much credit in supposing that the boy had already worked out the problem of finding those who had made the attack on the "Benson."