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The Sign of the Seven Sins
The Sign of the Seven Sins

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for The Sign of the Seven Sins
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.
Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.
Why were they leaving the yacht in company?
What fresh conspiracy was there in progress?
I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.
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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 Sign of the Seven Sins

Chapter XV

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.
Line 2
Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.
Line 3
Why were they leaving the yacht in company?
Line 4
What fresh conspiracy was there in progress?
Line 5
I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

Learner Dictionary

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

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.”

Disguise noun US /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading “IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.”

Handsome noun US /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading “Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

always

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

amazement

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

ASTONISHING

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

believed

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

Benjamin

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

bewilderment

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

caused

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

company

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

From this reading Why were they leaving the yacht in company?

conspiracy

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

From this reading What fresh conspiracy was there in progress?

countenance

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

dark-haired

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

deck-house

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

disclosed

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

female

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

few

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

floor

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

fresh

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

From this reading What fresh conspiracy was there in progress?

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

held

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

honor

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

hours

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

identity

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

ill-lit

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

instant

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

Keppel

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

lamp

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

leaving

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

From this reading Why were they leaving the yacht in company?

lying

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

man

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

night

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

old

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

other

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

past

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

previous

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

progress

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

From this reading What fresh conspiracy was there in progress?

recognized

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

revelations

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

seen

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

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

soul

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

station

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

suspected

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

there

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

From this reading What fresh conspiracy was there in progress?

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Why were they leaving the yacht in company?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

utter

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

From this reading I had always believed old Benjamin Keppel to be the soul of honor, but the revelations of the past few hours caused me utter bewilderment.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Why were they leaving the yacht in company?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What fresh conspiracy was there in progress?

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Her identity it was that held me in amazement, for that instant I recognized her as none other than the dark-haired, handsome woman whom I had seen lying dead upon the floor of the deck-house on the previous night.

Why

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

From this reading Why were they leaving the yacht in company?

woman

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

From this reading IS ASTONISHING The countenance disclosed by the lamp in the great ill-lit station was not that of a man in female disguise, as I had suspected, but of a woman.

yacht

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

From this reading Why were they leaving the yacht in company?