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The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16, section 1: “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely. “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.” It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was f
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
“I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.
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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.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
Line 2
“I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
Line 3
It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
Line 4
A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.
Line 5
The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading ““I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.””

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.””

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.”

Powers noun US /powers/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading ““And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

abnormal

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

all

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

conditions

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

curious

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

days

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

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

determine

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

direction

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

duties

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

experience

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

fad

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

fortnight

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

frequently

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

friend's

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

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

fulfilled

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

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

gravely

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

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

Holmes

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

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

human

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

light

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

lonely

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

man

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

many

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

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

mistaken

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

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

much

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

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

past

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

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

philanthropist

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

plot

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

pointed

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

powersnounUS /powers/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

prediction

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

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

said

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

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

salary

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

side-alley

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

strange

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

strayed

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

thoughts

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.

turning

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

unusual

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

very

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

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

villain

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

woman

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

wondering

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

From this reading A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.