used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRATEGIC MOVE.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
exhale hard
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
confined by bonds
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
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 The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
cobwebsnounUS /ˈkɑːbwebz/
plural of “cobweb” — a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
dancernounUS /ˈdænsər/
a performer who dances professionally
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
set up or found
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
knocksnounUS /nɑːks/
plural of “knock” — the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
a particular point in time
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A STRATEGIC MOVE.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
held or filled or in use
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
an amount of time
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading That he was in the dwelling occupied by the Spanish dancer, Nick had not a doubt.
STRATEGICadjectiveUS /strəˈtiːdʒɪk/
relating to or concerned with strategy
From this reading A STRATEGIC MOVE.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
Venner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nick Carter had a head that was used to hard knocks, and it required more than one to put him down and out for any considerable period.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He found himself bound hand and foot with ropes, and lying upon the floor of a dark room.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The great detective recovered consciousness within half an hour after the blow received from Rufus Venner, and he fell to taking the measure of his situation the moment the cobwebs began to clear from his brain.
