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The horror expert
The horror expert

Chapter X

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Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.
Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
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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 horror expert

Chapter X

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
Line 2
Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
Line 3
It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.
Line 4
Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
Line 5
The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

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 “It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

addition

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

conference

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

days

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

Detective

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

From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

discussed

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

earlier

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

Eaton

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

Eaton-Lathrup

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

eight

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

Ellers

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

Fenton

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

Gallison

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

From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

Grade

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

From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

hadn't

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

Hansen

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

held

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

included

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

From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

Lieutenant

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

Like

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

Macklin

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

Macklin's

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

made

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

matters

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

number

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

office

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

officers

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

offices

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

official

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

From this reading It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.

original

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

people

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

place

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

plain

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

police

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

precisely

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

present

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

repeat

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

sense

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

From this reading It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.

several

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

strictly

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

From this reading It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.

taken

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

there

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

twice

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

From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.

two

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

weighty

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

wished

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

From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.

women

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.

young

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

From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.