Chapter I

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

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

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

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

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

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

of surpassing excellence

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

an industrial city and port in southwestern England near the mouth of the River Avon

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

make right or correct

From this reading He never fails to produce the correct illusion.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading He never fails to produce the correct illusion.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

a notable achievement

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

a newspaper or official journal

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

written or drawn or engraved

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

plural of “grip” — the act of grasping

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

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

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

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

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

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

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

the act of retaining something

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

plural of “hold” — the act of grasping

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

an erroneous mental representation

From this reading He never fails to produce the correct illusion.

a single distinct event

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

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

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

immediately past

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

title used for a married Frenchwoman

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

a form of address for a man

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He never fails to produce the correct illusion.

information about recent and important events

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

not any; not one

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

on one occasion

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

become less interesting or attractive

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

breathing heavily (as after exertion)

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

bring forth or yield

From this reading He never fails to produce the correct illusion.

in the manner of prosperous people

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

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

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

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

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

third-person singular of “retain” — hold back within

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

not in physical motion

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

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

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

in or at that place or location

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

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

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He always leaves us panting for more--a brilliant feat.”--=Daily Graphic.= “Mr. Le Queux is still ‘The Master of Mystery.’”--=Madame.= “Mr. Le Queux always grips his reader, and holds him to the last page.”--=Bristol Times and Mirror.= “Mr. Le Queux’s books once begun must be read to the end.”--=Evening News.=

with vigor; in a vigorous manner

From this reading “There is no better companion on a railway journey than Mr. William Le Queux.”--=Daily Mail.= “Mr. Le Queux knows his business, and carries it on vigorously and prosperously.

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

From this reading He is far too skilful to allow pause for thought; he whirls his readers from incident to incident, holding their attention from the first page to the close of the book.”--=Pall Mall Gazette.= “Mr. Le Queux is the master of mystery.

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

From this reading “Mr. William Le Queux retains his position as ‘The Master of Mystery.’...