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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
ascertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
disposednounUS /ˈdisposed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
evidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
fences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
Field's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
gained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
goods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
included
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
Lorton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
SILVER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STOLEN SILVER.
silverware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
STOLEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STOLEN SILVER.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As it stood now he not only had to find evidence, but also to make that evidence point to somebody.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STOLEN SILVER.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it should prove that the goods he had disposed of included the silverware that had been taken from Mr. Field’s house, then he would have a good case, and it would only remain to get together evidence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
well-known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The next step was to ascertain if Lorton had been to any of the well-known “fences” the night before, and if he had, to learn what he had sold.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If he could learn absolutely that Lorton was in the city something would be gained.
