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Chapter X
SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days. But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid. Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him. He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece. And yet he was afraid.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.”
apart from; not including
From this reading “He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.”
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.”
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading “But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him.”
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.”
belonging to which person
From this reading “SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.”
but in spite of that
From this reading “And yet he was afraid.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
apart from; not including
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something in the stillness of the room oppressed him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He could see nothing, hear nothing except the clock ticking upon the mantlepiece.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid.
which person or people
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
belonging to which person
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet he was afraid.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPENCER'S SURPRISE Duncombe had the nerves and temperament of the young Englishman of his class, whose life is mostly spent out of doors, and who has been an athlete all his days.
