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A Master Hand
A Master Hand

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for A Master Hand
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.
The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.
The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.
I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.
During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.
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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.

A Master Hand

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.
Line 2
The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.
Line 3
The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.
Line 4
I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.
Line 5
During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.”

Deserted verb US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading “The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.”

LAST noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.”

All words in this reading · 95

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 The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

awaiting

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

case

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

close

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

coming

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

court

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

day

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

daylight

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

dimly

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

dinner

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

dismally

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

engaged

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

fading

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

fire

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

flickered

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

fortnight

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

full

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

gloom

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

haunted

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

heart

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

hearth

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

LASTnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

late

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

lighted

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

Miles

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

nearly

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

new

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

office

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

past

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

pattered

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

persistently

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

rain

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

rainy

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

report

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

results

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

room

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

sat

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

sent

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

shadows

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

single

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

theory

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

thoughts

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

TRUTH

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

two

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

vague

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

weeks

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

From this reading THE TRUTH AT LAST It was nearly two weeks after my little dinner that I sat late one afternoon alone in my office.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

window

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

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

winter's

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

From this reading The gloom of the close of a rainy winter's day was over everything and my thoughts and heart seemed full of the vague shadows that haunted the room.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The rain without pattered dismally against the single window that looked into a deserted court and within the room was dimly lighted by the fading daylight and the fire that flickered on the hearth.

word

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

From this reading I was awaiting the coming of Miles, who that morning had sent me word that he had something to report.

working

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

From this reading During the past fortnight he had been persistently engaged in working on his new theory of the case, but with what results I did not know, for he had told me nothing.