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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 This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
apparently
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From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
Baron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
capacity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
chamber
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From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
chance
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From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
contained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
couldn't
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From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
dissimulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
false
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
guessing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
hammered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
hiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
ingenuity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
limited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
loss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
objects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
oblong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
ones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
panel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
pushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
rate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
receptaclenounUS /rɪˈsep.tə.kəl/
An object or container used to hold or store something.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
revealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
Ryves's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
Sidney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
sliding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
smaller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
somebody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Its capacity was limited, but if it couldn’t hold many things it might hold precious ones.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This particular piece proved to be, in its turn, a sliding panel, which, when pushed, revealed the existence of a smaller receptacle, a narrow, oblong box, in the false back.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It contained objects which, whether precious or not, had at any rate been worth somebody’s hiding.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This apparently would have been a loss, for he had been right in guessing that the chamber was not empty.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baron, in presence of the ingenuity with which it had been dissimulated, immediately felt that, but for the odd chance of little Sidney Ryves’s having hammered on the outside at the moment he himself happened to have his head in the desk, he might have remained for years without suspicion of it.
