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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 “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
also
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From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
balancenounUS /ˈbalance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
characteristic
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From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
declinenounUS /dɪˈklaɪn/
a gradual loss of health and strength
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
distinct
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From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
drink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
evil
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From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
fashion
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From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
few
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From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
foresight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
formerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
fortunes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
gazed
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From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
highly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
indicate
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From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
infer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
inferences
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From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
influence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
intellectual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
introspective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
moral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
obvious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
peculiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
picked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
pointing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
pray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
probability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
represent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
retrogression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
suggestive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
well-to-do
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading “It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been,” he remarked, “and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?”