Chapter IX
A SEMICIRCLE OF CRIME. Nick returned to the house. In the dark hall he paused. Voices could be heard. Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
Following a Chance Clew
Chapter IX
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A
SEMICIRCLE
OF
CRIME.
Nick
returned
to
the
house.
In
the
dark
hall
he
paused.
Voices
could
be
heard.
Men
were
talking
in
subdued
tones
in
a
room
on
his
left.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
A
SEMICIRCLE
OF
CRIME.
Line 2
Nick
returned
to
the
house.
Line 3
In
the
dark
hall
he
paused.
Line 4
Voices
could
be
heard.
Line 5
Men
were
talking
in
subdued
tones
in
a
room
on
his
left.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Could
modal verb
US /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Voices could be heard.”
Left
noun
US /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.”
Returned
noun
US /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Nick returned to the house.”
All words in this reading · 27
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 SEMICIRCLE OF CRIME.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Voices could be heard.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Voices could be heard.
CRIME
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SEMICIRCLE OF CRIME.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the dark hall he paused.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the dark hall he paused.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the dark hall he paused.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Voices could be heard.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick returned to the house.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the dark hall he paused.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
Men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
Nick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick returned to the house.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SEMICIRCLE OF CRIME.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the dark hall he paused.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Nick returned to the house.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
SEMICIRCLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SEMICIRCLE OF CRIME.
subdued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nick returned to the house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nick returned to the house.
tones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.
Voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Voices could be heard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Men were talking in subdued tones in a room on his left.