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1884
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
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 a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
all
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From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
band
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
breakfast
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From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
broad
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From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
bulbous-headed
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From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
C
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From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
date
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From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
engraved
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From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
friends
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From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
H
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From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
hearth-rug
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From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
Holmes
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From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
infrequent
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From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
Just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
known
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From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
late
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From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
lawyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
M
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From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
mornings
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From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
Mortimer
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From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
Mr
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From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
occasions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
Penang
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From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
picked
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From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
R
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
SherlocknounUS /ˈʃɜːrlɑːk/
someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Mr. Sherlock Holmes Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”