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Murder in Black Letter
Murder in Black Letter

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Murder in Black Letter is here in full — 410 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Murder in Black Letter
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.
The events described are made up out of whole cloth.
The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.
Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.
There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.
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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.

Murder in Black Letter

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Murder in Black Letter is here in full — 410 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.
Line 2
The events described are made up out of whole cloth.
/ðə ɪˈvents dɪˈskraɪbd ɑːr meɪd ʌp aʊt ʌv hoʊl klɔːθ/
Line 3
The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.
/ðə hoʊˈtelz ˈrestərɑːnts ˈkʌmpəniːz ənd ˈʌðər ˈbɪznəs ˈentərpraɪzɪz hɪˈrɪn ˈmenʃənd ɑːr ˈiːkwəli ˌnɑːnəɡˈzɪstənt/
Line 4
Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.
/tuː riːl ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃənz əˈkɜːr ðə ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti ʌv ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə ənd ðə ˈbɜːrkli pəˈliːs dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
Line 5
There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.
/ðer ɪz noʊ ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃən ˌɪnˈtendɪd ðæt ˈiːðər ʌv ðiːz wʊd kənˈdoʊn ɔːl ðə ˈækʃənz ənd əˈpɪnjənz ʌv ðə ˌɪˈmædʒəneri ˈpiːpəl aɪ hæv wɪʃt ˈɑːntuː ðer ˈpeɪroʊlz/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

catalog noun US /ˈkætəlɔːɡ/

a book or pamphlet containing an enumeration of things

From this reading “Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.”

condone verb US /kənˈdoʊn/

excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with

From this reading “There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.”

implication noun US /ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃən/

something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied)

From this reading “There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.”

intentional adjective US /ˌɪnˈtenʃənəl/

characterized by conscious design or purpose

From this reading “Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.”

nonexistent adjective US /ˌnɑːnəɡˈzɪstənt/

not having existence or being or actuality

From this reading “The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.”

Ontario noun US /ɑːnˈterioʊ/

the smallest of the Great Lakes

From this reading “Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.”

payrolls noun US /ˈpeɪroʊlz/

plural of “payroll” — a list of employees and their salaries

From this reading “There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.”

restaurants noun US /ˈrestərɑːnts/

plural of “restaurant” — a building where people go to eat

From this reading “The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Police Department noun + noun

the department of local government concerned with enforcing the law and preventing crime

In this reading “Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.”

ever known adverb + adjective

In this reading “Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.”

wisest man adjective + noun counted as “wise man”

a wise and trusted guide and advisor

In this reading “Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.”

of course preposition + noun

as might be expected

In this reading “Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.”

All words in this reading · 96

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

5690

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

59

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/

plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

actualadjectiveUS /ˈæktʃəwəl/

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

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 Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

BerkeleynounUS /ˈbɜːrkli/

Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop who opposed the materialism of Thomas Hobbes (1685-1753)

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

Brett-Macmillan

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/

a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

cardnounUS /kɑːrd/

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

catalognounUS /ˈkætəlɔːɡ/

a book or pamphlet containing an enumeration of things

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

charactersnounUS /ˈkærəktərz/

plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

clothnounUS /klɔːθ/

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading The events described are made up out of whole cloth.

companiesnounUS /ˈkʌmpəniːz/

plural of “company” — an institution created to conduct business

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

CompanynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

condoneverbUS /kənˈdoʊn/

excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

DepartmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/

a specialized division of a large organization

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

describedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskraɪbd/

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading The events described are made up out of whole cloth.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

enterprisesnounUS /ˈentərpraɪzɪz/

plural of “enterprise” — a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading The events described are made up out of whole cloth.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

ExceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

fictitiousadjectiveUS /fɪkˈtɪʃəs/

formed or conceived by the imagination

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

Galt

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

hereinadverbUS /hɪˈrɪn/

in this place or thing or document

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

hotelsnounUS /hoʊˈtelz/

plural of “hotel” — a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/

not based on fact; existing only in the imagination

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

implicationnounUS /ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃən/

something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied)

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

institutionsnounUS /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃənz/

plural of “institution” — an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

intendedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪd/

resulting from one's intentions

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

intentionaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtenʃənəl/

characterized by conscious design or purpose

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

LibrarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/

a room where books are kept

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

Ltd

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

Macmillan

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The events described are made up out of whole cloth.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

mentionedverbUS /ˈmenʃənd/

past form of “mention” — make reference to

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

Metallumai

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

nonexistentadjectiveUS /ˌnɑːnəɡˈzɪstənt/

not having existence or being or actuality

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/

come to pass

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

OntarionounUS /ɑːnˈterioʊ/

the smallest of the Great Lakes

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/

moving to a position on a surface

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

opinionsnounUS /əˈpɪnjənz/

plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The events described are made up out of whole cloth.

payrollsnounUS /ˈpeɪroʊlz/

plural of “payroll” — a list of employees and their salaries

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

PolicenounUS /pəˈliːs/

the force of policemen and officers

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

regardnounUS /rɪˈɡɑːrd/

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

resemblancenounUS /rɪˈzembləns/

similarity in appearance or external or superficial details

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

restaurantsnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnts/

plural of “restaurant” — a building where people go to eat

From this reading The hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

Taffimai

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

TwonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

UniversitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/

the body of faculty and students at a university

From this reading Two real institutions occur: the University of California and the Berkeley Police Department.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The events described are made up out of whole cloth.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading The events described are made up out of whole cloth.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

wisestadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzəst/

superlative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

wishedverbUS /wɪʃt/

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading There is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people I have wished onto their payrolls.

YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Library of Congress catalog card number: 59-5690 The Macmillan Company, New York Brett-Macmillan Ltd., Galt, Ontario _To him whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man whom I have ever known_ Except, of course, for Taffimai Metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead.

Chapter 1 of Murder in Black Letter by Poul Anderson holds 410 sentences, grouped into 82 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Murder in Black Letter contain?

Chapter 1 holds 410 sentences of Murder in Black Letter, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Murder in Black Letter by Poul Anderson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 410 sentences, grouped into 82 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Murder in Black Letter?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Murder in Black Letter

Common questions about reading Murder in Black Letter by Poul Anderson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Murder in Black Letter?

Yes. All 5289 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #59369 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Murder in Black Letter is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #59369, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Murder in Black Letter take to read?

About 440 minutes of reading across 1058 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Murder in Black Letter section by section

How to work through Murder in Black Letter section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Murder in Black Letter to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Murder in Black Letter

Words and structures a reader meets early in Murder in Black Letter, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Library
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Murder in Black Letter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Congress
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Murder in Black Letter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Catalog
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Murder in Black Letter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Number
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Murder in Black Letter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.