Chapter XXV
Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers. The light had failed. He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness. But there was something else. Had it been fancy or ...
The Cinema Murder
Chapter XXV
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Philip
let
the
pen
slip
at
last
from
his
tired
fingers.
The
light
had
failed.
He
had
been
writing
with
straining
eyes,
almost
in
the
darkness.
But
there
was
something
else.
Had
it
been
fancy
or ...
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
Philip
let
the
pen
slip
at
last
from
his
tired
fingers.
Line 2
The
light
had
failed.
Line 3
He
had
been
writing
with
straining
eyes,
almost
in
the
darkness.
Line 4
But
there
was
something
else.
Line 5
Had
it
been
fancy
or ...
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Been
auxiliary verb
US /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.”
Last
noun
US /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.”
Let
auxiliary verb
US /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.”
Something
pronoun
US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “But there was something else.”
All words in this reading · 31
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was something else.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was something else.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light had failed.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had it been fancy or ...
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The light had failed.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had it been fancy or ...
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light had failed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Had it been fancy or ...
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
Philip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But there was something else.
straining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was something else.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philip let the pen slip at last from his tired fingers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was something else.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been writing with straining eyes, almost in the darkness.