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Chapter XXVI
THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other. Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants. Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice: "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington. Our business is quite private."
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Our business is quite private."”
belonging to which person
From this reading “Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business is quite private."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our business is quite private."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our business is quite private."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our business is quite private."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our business is quite private."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Judged by their clothes and general appearance they might have been gentlemen's servants or superior shop-assistants.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
belonging to which person
From this reading Directly they saw that I was not alone, the elder, whose age was fifty or so, said, in a tense voice:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "We wish to see you alone, Mr. Berrington.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FOUR FACES They were quietly dressed, inoffensive-looking men, one a good deal younger than the other.
