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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 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
determine
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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From this reading It was not very long before my friend’s prediction was fulfilled.
gravely
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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
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From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
human
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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
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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
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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
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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
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From this reading “I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past.”
much
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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
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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
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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
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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
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From this reading “And she would need to be,” said Holmes gravely.
salary
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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
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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
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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
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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.