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A Book of Remarkable Criminals
A Book of Remarkable Criminals

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for A Book of Remarkable Criminals
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.
According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.
But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.
For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.
Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals

Chapter XI

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.
Line 2
According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.
Line 3
But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.
Line 4
For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.
Line 5
Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.”

Gentleman noun US /ˈgentleman/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."”

All words in this reading · 86

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

According

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

account

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

ally

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

anxious

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

belief

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

cause

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

From this reading Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

choir

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

church

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

conviction

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

crime

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

danger

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

decision

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

deliberation

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

From this reading Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

distinction

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

distinctly

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

down

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

favour

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

favourable

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

Guilty

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

From this reading Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

held

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

homicidal

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

hours

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

jury

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

jurymen

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

locked

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

lose

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

majority

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

maniac

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

member

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

night

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

obstinate

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

opportunity

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

out

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

prisoner

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

proceedings

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

prominent

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

reason

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

Saturday

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

sing

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

solo

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

spite

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

summing-up

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

Sunday

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

there

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

three

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

unexpected

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

unshaken

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

up

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

From this reading But it was Saturday night; if they could not come to a decision they were in danger of being locked up over Sunday.

verdict

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

From this reading Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading In spite of a summing-up distinctly favourable to the prisoner, the jury were out three hours.

WhateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever the cause, after three hours' deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

work

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

From this reading For this reason the gentleman who held an obstinate and unshaken belief that the crime was the work of a homicidal maniac found an unexpected ally in a prominent member of a church choir who was down to sing a solo in his church on Sunday, and was anxious not to lose such an opportunity for distinction.

writer

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

From this reading According to one account of their proceedings, told to the writer, there was at first a majority of the jurymen in favour of conviction.