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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
arranging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
attempts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
bookstall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
Brook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
business
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From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
cane
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From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
carrying
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From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
contented
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From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
dozen
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From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
exactly
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From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
explanations
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From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
fantastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
forms
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From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
grotesquely
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From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
improbable
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From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
instructions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
kaleidoscopic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
Linchmere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
loaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
Paddington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
plenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
rearranging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
solution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
specimen-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
valise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
