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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 His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
burned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
caution
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From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
chief
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From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
contents
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From this reading He was determined to discover the contents of that letter.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
detective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading He was determined to discover the contents of that letter.
discover
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From this reading He was determined to discover the contents of that letter.
entertained
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From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
extort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
Gorham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was determined to discover the contents of that letter.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
influence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
manager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
observe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
proceeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
speculation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
suspicions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
theatre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
theory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The letter continued to be an interesting subject of speculation to the detective.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His theory that Gorham had burned his own theatre, and that the boy, being a party to the crime or having knowledge of it, was seeking to extort money, had taken a strong hold upon him.
wealth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the manager was a man of wealth and, in that sense, of influence and position, it was necessary to observe great caution in proceeding.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Of course no one as yet except the chief of police knew that suspicions of Mr. Gorham were entertained.
