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Nick Carter Stories No. 140, May 15, 1915
Nick Carter Stories No. 140, May 15, 1915

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Nick Carter Stories No. 140, May 15, 1915
Context Illustration Reading 1/148 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MYSTERIOUS ASHES.
After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.
He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.
At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.
Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.
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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.

Nick Carter Stories No. 140, May 15, 1915

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/148 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MYSTERIOUS ASHES.
/mɪˈstɪriəs ˈæʃ.ɪz/
Line 2
After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.
Line 3
He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.
Line 4
At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.
Line 5
Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.”

ASHES noun US /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading “MYSTERIOUS ASHES.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.”

MYSTERIOUS adjective US /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading “MYSTERIOUS ASHES.”

Owing noun US /owing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.”

Whither adverb US /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading “After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

afloat

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

any

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

Appleby

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

arrival

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

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

ASHESnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading MYSTERIOUS ASHES.

aspersions

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

ass

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

betaken

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

blunderer

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

Colonel

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

curt

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

defend

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

defiance

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

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

detailed

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

explanation

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

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

feel

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

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

fiercely

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

foundry

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

glowering

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

Grail

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

happened

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

headquarters

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

Hemingway

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

hurried

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

jestingly

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

knew

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

like

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

Major

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

manager

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

meeting

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

mess

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

message

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

MYSTERIOUSadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading MYSTERIOUS ASHES.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

offering

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

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

office

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

officious

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

owing

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

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

post

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

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

prevented

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

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

rate

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

sat

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

Schilder's

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

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

scorned

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

sending

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

set

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

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

spot

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

story

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

then

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

From this reading Grail had been prevented then from offering any explanation, owing to their arrival at Schilder’s office.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

trip

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

Vedant

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.

wall

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

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading After sending his curt message to Major Appleby, Grail sat in the office at headquarters, whither he had betaken himself from the meeting, smoking fiercely, and glowering at a spot on the wall.

whole

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From this reading He had set himself in defiance of the whole post, and he could not but feel that he was in the right.

young

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

From this reading At any rate, he scorned to defend himself against the aspersions of a blunderer like Appleby, or an officious young ass like Hemingway; for, as it happened, he knew of the story set afloat by the mess manager, Colonel Vedant having detailed it to him jestingly during their hurried trip to the foundry.