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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 It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
absent
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From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
apparent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
appearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
autumn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
brutally
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From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
Bureau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
change
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From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
clue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
concerning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
consequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
crimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
eminent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
enemy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
features
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
helpful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
investigator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
laboratory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
Malcolm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
McMurray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
motive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
murderer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
physiologist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
problems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
Professor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
professor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
Sage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
semi-recluse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
sixty-five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
strongest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
tempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
undergone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
weapon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of those strange crimes for which there is no apparent explanation, consequently the strongest weapon the investigator has, that of motive, was absent.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I Of the many problems upon which Malcolm Sage was engaged during the early days of the Malcolm Sage Bureau, that concerning the death of Professor James McMurray, the eminent physiologist, was perhaps the most extraordinary.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As far as could be gathered the dead professor had not an enemy in the world.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was possessed of several remarkable features; for one thing the murderer had disappeared, leaving no clue; for another the body when found seemed to have undergone a strange change, many of the professor's sixty-five years appearing to have dropped from him in death as leaves from an autumn tree.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He was a semi-recluse, with nothing about him to tempt the burglar; yet he had been brutally done to death in his own laboratory, and the murderer had made good his escape without leaving anything likely to prove helpful to the police.
