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The Black Tulip
The Black Tulip

Chapter VIII · An Invasion

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Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.
It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.
He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.
The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.
Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Black Tulip

Chapter VIII · An Invasion

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.
Line 2
It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.
Line 3
He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.
Line 4
The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.
Line 5
Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Diabolical adjective US /ˌdaɪəˈbɑːlɪkəl/

extremely evil or frightening

From this reading “The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.”

Doctor noun US /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Precious adjective US /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Warden noun US /ˈwɔːr.dən/

The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.

From this reading “He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.”

All words in this reading · 132

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 The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

all

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

arrested

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

attentively

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

Baerle

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

Boxtel

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

Boxtel's

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

brothers

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

bulbs

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

carefully

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

chance

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

charge

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

concluded

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

Cornelius

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

de

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

detail

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

diabolicaladjectiveUS /ˌdaɪəˈbɑːlɪkəl/

extremely evil or frightening

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

DoctornounUS /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

drawer

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

escaped

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

events

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

full

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

godfather

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

godson

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

guessed

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

happiness

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

heard

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

heart

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

high

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

horror

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

idea

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

importance

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

incident

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

indeed

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

information

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From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

informing

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From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

intrusted

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

Isaac

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

just

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

keep

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

lead

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

likely

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

man

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

meeting

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

more

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

most

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

much

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

Mynheer

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

needed

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

neighbour

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

news

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

only

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

papers

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

parcel

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

political

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

private

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

reader

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

related

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

remembered

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

rightly

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

saw

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

say

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

scaffold

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

secreting

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

seen

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

shrank

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

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

States

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

telescope

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

treason

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

upshot

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

used

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

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

Van

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

very

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

WardennounUS /ˈwɔːr.dən/

The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

watched

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

well

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He had, indeed, heard nothing, but he had seen everything, and had rightly concluded that the papers intrusted by the Warden to the Doctor must have been of great importance, as he saw Van Baerle so carefully secreting the parcel in the drawer where he used to keep his most precious bulbs.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

Witt

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

From this reading It will be remembered that, with the help of his telescope, not even the least detail of the private meeting between Cornelius de Witt and Van Baerle had escaped him.

word

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

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

work

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

From this reading The incident just related was, as the reader has guessed before this, the diabolical work of Mynheer Isaac Boxtel.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The upshot of all this was that when Boxtel, who watched the course of political events much more attentively than his neighbour Cornelius was used to do, heard the news of the brothers De Witt being arrested on a charge of high treason against the States, he thought within his heart that very likely he needed only to say one word, and the godson would be arrested as well as the godfather.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet, full of happiness as was Boxtel’s heart at the chance, he at first shrank with horror from the idea of informing against a man whom this information might lead to the scaffold.