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The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Hound of the Baskervilles

Chapter I

Mr. Sherlock Holmes was seated at the breakfast table.

Chapter 1, section 1: 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 t
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
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.
I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
“To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”
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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 Hound of the Baskervilles

Chapter I

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
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.
Line 2
I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before.
Line 3
It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a “Penang lawyer.”
Line 4
Just under the head was a broad silver band nearly an inch across.
Line 5
“To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.,” was engraved upon it, with the date “1884.”

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

sherlock noun US /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.”

Collocations
Mr SherlockA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
Sherlock HolmesA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 79

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

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

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.

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

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.

broad

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.

bulbous-headed

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.”

C

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.”

date

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.”

engraved

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.”

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

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.”

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

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.”

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.”

late

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.

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

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.”

mornings

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.

Mortimer

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.”

Mr

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.

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

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.”

picked

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.

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.”