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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 THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
accident
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From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
adopting
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From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
all
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From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
anywhere
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
away
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
back
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
blood-stained
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
chances
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From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
committed
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From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
crime
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
disappear
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
discomposed
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From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
example
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From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
favour
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From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
FLIES
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From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
foolish
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From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
Forstemann
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From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
Franz's
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
give
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From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
going
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
happens
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From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
hasty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
helter-skelter
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
HOME
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From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
hotel
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From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
Karl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
lightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
murder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
Nice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
PIGEON
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From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
portmanteau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
precipitate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
reclaim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
retreat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
Robbler's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
second
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From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
showed
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From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
throwing
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From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
Tyrol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
valuable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
Vienna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
wholly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.