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Hidden Foes
Hidden Foes

Chapter XVI · Vain Inquiries

Cover illustration for Hidden Foes
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
“That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hidden Foes

Chapter XVI · Vain Inquiries

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.
Line 2
They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.
Line 3
Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.
Line 4
They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.
Line 5
“That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.”

Muttered verb US /ˈmʌtərd/

spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear

From this reading ““That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

action

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

also

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

any

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

away

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

car

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

From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.

chauffeur

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

circumstances

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

departing

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

distance

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.

down

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

From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.

entered

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

From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.

fifteen

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

frown

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

further

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

Garvan

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

gazing

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

grimly

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

From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

haste

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

house

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

hurried

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

From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

leaving

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

light

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

Madison

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

men

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

minute

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

minutes

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

Monk

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

motor

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

From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.

mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/

spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear

From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

ominous

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

out

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

Patsy

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

precluding

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

pursuit

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

ran

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

rate

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

rear

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

red

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

resume

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

returning

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

road

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

saw

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

seat

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

settle

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

From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.

significant

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

speed

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

steps

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

From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “That does settle it,” he muttered grimly.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They hurried down the steps and entered the motor car.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

Toby

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

two

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

vanished

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

very

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

waiting

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

watching

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

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

wheel

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

From this reading Toby Monk, the chauffeur, also saw them, and ran to resume his seat at the wheel.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Patsy Garvan had been waiting and watching about fifteen minutes, the circumstances precluding any further action, when he saw the two men come out of the road house.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading They were away within half a minute, departing with very significant haste and returning to Madison at a rate of speed precluding pursuit, but leaving Patsy gazing with an ominous frown after the rear red light till it vanished in the distance.