Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
abandoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
activity
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From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
beaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
business
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From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
card
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
constant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Van Rosen, of course, was under constant surveillance.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Van Rosen, of course, was under constant surveillance.
depressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
feverish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
geranium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
hopelessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
hypnotised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
incessant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
investigation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
mysteries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
odour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
patient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
pungent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
Rosen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Van Rosen, of course, was under constant surveillance.
Scotland
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From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
searchers-out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
Six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
stag-leaved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
surveillance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Van Rosen, of course, was under constant surveillance.
suspected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Van Rosen, of course, was under constant surveillance.
unrelenting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
unwearying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
Van
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Van Rosen, of course, was under constant surveillance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Van Rosen, of course, was under constant surveillance.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Six weeks went by--weeks of feverish activity and incessant patient investigation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether he suspected it or not I do not know, but for the time being he seemed to have entirely abandoned his usual business.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading That mysterious wedding card, with its pungent odour of stag-leaved geranium, hypnotised me, and I could think of nothing else.
Yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And everything began to seem so hopeless that even the Scotland Yard men, most unrelenting and unwearying searchers-out of hidden mysteries, began to get depressed and to fancy they were hopelessly beaten.
