used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “About what hour did the robbery occur last night?”
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
bathnounUS /bæθ/
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
detailedadjectiveUS /dɪˈteɪld/
developed or executed with care and in minute detail
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “About what hour did the robbery occur last night?”
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
FERGUSON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
HeadquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “About what hour did the robbery occur last night?”
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
inspectverbUS /ˌɪnˈspekt/
look over carefully
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
jewelrynounUS /ˈdʒuːəlri/
an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
judgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/
past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
JudithnounUS /ˈdʒuːdəθ/
Jewish heroine in one of the books of the Apocrypha; she saved her people by decapitating the Assyrian general Holofernes
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
immediately past
From this reading “About what hour did the robbery occur last night?”
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
magnifyingverbUS /ˈmæɡnəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “magnify” — increase in size, volume or significance
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
MIZPAH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
negativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɡətɪv/
characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “About what hour did the robbery occur last night?”
notifiedverbUS /ˈnoʊtəfaɪd/
inflected form of “notify” — inform (somebody) of something
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
held or filled or in use
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading “About what hour did the robbery occur last night?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
printsnounUS /prɪnts/
plural of “print” — the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
with speed
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
RichardsnounUS /ˈrɪtʃərdz/
English literary critic who collaborated with C. K. Ogden and contributed to the development of Basic English (1893-1979)
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
robberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/
larceny by threat of violence
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
solicitationnounUS /səˌlɪsɪˈteɪʃən/
an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
suitenounUS /swiːt/
a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At Richards’ earnest solicitation she had notified Police Headquarters of the robbery and Ferguson had been detailed to investigate it.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Quickly he made his test for finger prints, but she judged from the negative shake of his head and his puzzled frown that the results were barren.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “About what hour did the robbery occur last night?”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “MIZPAH” DETECTIVE FERGUSON completed his tour of the suite of three rooms and bath which Judith and her husband occupied and took up his station in the boudoir.
which person or people
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was followed into the room an instant later by Judith who watched him inspect her empty jewelry box with the aid of a magnifying glass.
