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A Successful Shadow
A Successful Shadow

Chapter II

Cover illustration for A Successful Shadow
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.
"Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."
Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.
The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.
He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Successful Shadow

Chapter II

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.
Line 2
"Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."
Line 3
Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.
Line 4
The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.
Line 5
He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

Learner Dictionary

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

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:”

NAME noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."”

SAME noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.”

Saved noun US /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “"Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."”

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 THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

addressed

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

Alvarez

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

any

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

AROUSED

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

BEAUTY

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

cannot

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

child

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

CLUE

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

detective

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

dollars

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

engaged

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

entered

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

few

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

financially

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

finding

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

give

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

hundred

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

immediately

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

INCIDENT

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

INTEREST

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

Jack

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

job

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

kind-hearted

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

language

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

large

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

lost

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

man

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

MISSING

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

moment

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

From this reading He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

Mr

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

NAMEnounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

NARRATIVE

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

occurred

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

offer

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

office

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

OLD

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

POSSIBILITIES

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

reward

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

said

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

From this reading He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

SAMEnounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

savednounUS /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

seated

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

special

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

STARTLING

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

successful

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

SUGGESTIONS

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

then

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

From this reading He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

veiled

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

very

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

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

visitor

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

From this reading He looked the visitor over a moment and then said:

WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

well-to-do

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

From this reading The detective was a kind-hearted man, well-to-do financially, and as it occurred not immediately engaged on any special job.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

WIDOW'S

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

From this reading THE SAME OLD INCIDENT OF A MISSING BEAUTY--A WIDOW'S NARRATIVE--AN AROUSED INTEREST--THE POSSIBILITIES IN A NAME--STARTLING SUGGESTIONS--WAS IT A CLUE.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

woman

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

From this reading Jack Alvarez, the detective, was seated in his office when a veiled woman entered and addressed him in the language with which we open our narrative.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Mr. Alvarez, I am very poor; I cannot offer you a large reward, but I have saved a few hundred dollars, and those I will give you if you are successful in finding my lost child."