used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VANISHED CLUE.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
BatesverbUS /beɪts/
third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
CLUEnounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading A VANISHED CLUE.
discernedverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrnd/
past form of “discern” — detect with the senses
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
illuminationnounUS /ˌɪluːməˈneɪʃən/
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
MasefieldnounUS /ˈmeɪzfiːld/
English poet (1878-1967)
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
not any; not one
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
nonplusedadjective
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
by chance
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
policeman'snounUS /pəˈliːsmənz/
possessive form of “policeman” — a member of a police force
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
by chance
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
express in words
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was only the professional caution that spoke; there was no illumination at the back of the policeman's brain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jack Masefield paused for Inspector Bates to say more.
having passed out of existence
From this reading A VANISHED CLUE.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Possibly the officer was possessed of some brilliant idea, but after the first glance at his face it was easy to see that he was as nonplused as Jack himself.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I had hoped that perhaps you had discerned something," Masefield said.
