AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TRUST.
absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/
the state of being absent
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Where have you been?
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Why did you not come before?
breathnounUS /breθ/
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
clewsnounUS /kluːz/
the cords used to suspend a hammock
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
colonelnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəl/
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
customnounUS /ˈkʌstəm/
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Why did you not come before?
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
formeradjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmər/
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
greetverbUS /ɡriːt/
express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
guidenounUS /ɡaɪd/
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Where have you been?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
LenanounUS /ˈliːnə/
a Russian river in Siberia; flows northward into the Laptev Sea
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
propoundedverbUS /prəˈpaʊndɪd/
past form of “propound” — put forward, as of an idea
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
puzzledadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəld/
filled with bewilderment
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
questionsnounUS /ˈkwestʃənz/
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
riddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
talenounUS /teɪl/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
TRUSTnounUS /trʌst/
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading A TRUST.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
WhereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where have you been?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why did you not come before?
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The puzzled colonel, even more puzzled than were his wife and Lena, since he had not all the clews to guide him which they had received, and, moreover, rather astonished that the former had not come to greet him, according to her usual custom, when he entered the house after an absence of some hours, had his tale to tell and his riddle to solve.
worseadjectiveUS /wɜːrs/
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading Is Lena worse?" were questions he propounded in a breath, not waiting for an answer to the first till he had asked all three.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Where have you been?
