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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 But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
badly
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From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
became
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From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
Billy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
completely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, he had completely disappeared, and where he was no one knew.
detective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
disappearance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In fact, he had completely disappeared, and where he was no one knew.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
enigma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/
every person
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
EVIDENCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, he had completely disappeared, and where he was no one knew.
famous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
fared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
indignation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
Midas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
nugget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
puzzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
regarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
riddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
SEARCH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
SLIVERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
solve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
Sphinx
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
venture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That gentleman would have fared very badly if he had made his appearance, but for some reason or another he did not venture forth.
Villiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The reasons he had for turning detective were simply these: It soon became known that Madame Midas had been robbed by her husband of the famous nugget, and great was the indignation of everyone against Mr Villiers.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading SLIVERS IN SEARCH OF EVIDENCE Slivers was puzzled over Villiers’ disappearance, so he determined to go in search of evidence against Madame Midas, though for what reason he wanted evidence against her no one but himself--and perhaps Billy--knew.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading In fact, he had completely disappeared, and where he was no one knew.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But then Slivers always was an enigma regarding his reasons for doing things, and even the Sphinx would have found him a difficult riddle to solve.
