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Spies of the Kaiser
Spies of the Kaiser

Chapter XIV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/58 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.
We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.
Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.
Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.
The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Spies of the Kaiser

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/58 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.
Line 2
We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.
Line 3
Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.
Line 4
Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.
Line 5
The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.”

Observation noun US /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading “Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

ago

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

all

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

arrived

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

assisted

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

attempted

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

aunt

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

Belgian

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

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

colony

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

constant

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

deal

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

Dubois

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

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

exerted

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

first-named

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

flabby-faced

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

forty

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

Frederick

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

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

German

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

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

Gessner

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

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

gold

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

greatly

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

Hartmann's

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

hotel

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

house

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

important

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

judged

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

keeping

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

kept

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

London

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

many

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

members

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

men

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

month

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

names

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

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

near

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

obscure

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

observationnounUS /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

OURdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

out

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

Paul

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

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

pince-nez

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

Poland

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

Pont

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

prominent

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

purpose

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

quiet

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

Ray

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

Raymond

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

return

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

SECRETS

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

somewhat

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

Station

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

staying

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

stout

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

strangers

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

Street

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

studious-looking

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their names were Paul Dubois, a Belgian, and Frederick Gessner, a German.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

two

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

Vera

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

Victoria

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

vigilance

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

watch

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

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We had exerted a good deal of vigilance and kept constant watch upon Hartmann's house in Pont Street since my return from Poland, but all to no purpose.

wearing

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

welcomed

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

WIRELESS

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

From this reading OUR WIRELESS SECRETS Something important was being attempted, but what it was neither Ray Raymond nor myself could make out.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Vera had been staying in London with her aunt and had greatly assisted us in keeping observation upon two strangers who had arrived in London about a month ago, and who were staying in an obscure hotel near Victoria Station.

younger

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

From this reading The first-named was, we judged, about forty, stout, flabby-faced, wearing gold pince-nez, while the German was somewhat younger, both quiet, studious-looking men who seemed, however, to be welcomed by many of the prominent members of the German colony in London.