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The crystal claw
The crystal claw

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The crystal claw
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.
I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.
It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.
Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.
His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The crystal claw

Chapter V

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.
Line 2
I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.
Line 3
It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.
Line 4
Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.
Line 5
His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.

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 “I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

acquaintance

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

attitude

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

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

Audley's

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

CURIOUS

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

ease

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

eavesdropping

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

enemy

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

ESTABLISHES

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

fact

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

FACTS

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

friend

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

friendly

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

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.

hotel

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

ill

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

incensed

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

From this reading His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

latter

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

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

longed

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

man

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.

mere

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

met

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

more

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

motives

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

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

nervous

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

noticed

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

now

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

obviously

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

pale

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

plain

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

professed

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

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

reveal

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

Ruthen

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

SOME

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

Stanley

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

suggested

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

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

Thelma

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

Thelma's

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

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

thoroughly

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

From this reading His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Thelma’s attitude, it was true, suggested the latter, though Ruthen had professed friendly motives.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading His attitude towards her thoroughly incensed me.

true

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

truth

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

unintentionally

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading ESTABLISHES SOME CURIOUS FACTS When I met Thelma next morning I noticed that she was pale and obviously nervous and ill at ease.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading It was now plain that the man Ruthen, whom I had thought to be a mere hotel acquaintance of Stanley Audley’s, was, in truth, something more, whether friend or enemy I was still not quite sure.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I longed to question her, but to do so would have been to reveal the fact that--unintentionally, it was true--I had been eavesdropping.