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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 He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
all
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From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
assurance
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From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
chatted
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From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
delivered
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From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
descend
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From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
Digby's
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From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
drank
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From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
dumb
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From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
Egypt
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From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
flying
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From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
giving
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From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
good-humoured
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From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
hall-porter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
noiselessly
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From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
o'clock
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From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
out
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From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
queries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
questioned
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From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
receiving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
recollected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
reference
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From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
regarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
revive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
safely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
SCENTnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading THE SCENT.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
soda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
spirits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
successor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SCENT.
TimenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.
urging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, I recollected, never been the same since his return from a flying visit to Egypt.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Time after time I had questioned him regarding his strange reference to his successor, but to all my queries he was entirely dumb.
whisky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chatted in his old, good-humoured style, drank a whisky and soda, and, just before one o'clock, let me out, urging me to descend the stairs noiselessly lest the hall-porter should know that he had had a visitor.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading After giving me the letter, and receiving my assurance that it would be safely delivered, Sir Digby's spirits seemed somewhat to revive.