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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
cannot
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From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
clenched
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From this reading Orbit’s hands clenched slightly.
DENNIS
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From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Orbit’s hands clenched slightly.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
Hughes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was not unusual and I thought nothing of it.”
inspector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not unusual and I thought nothing of it.”
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No, none.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading “No, none.
NOSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not unusual and I thought nothing of it.”
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was not unusual and I thought nothing of it.”
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
Orbit's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Orbit’s hands clenched slightly.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
pause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
really
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From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
RIORDAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Orbit’s hands clenched slightly.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone!
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not unusual and I thought nothing of it.”
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
unusual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not unusual and I thought nothing of it.”
wanting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN There was a second pause and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?”