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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 more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
brings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.
building
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From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
case
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From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
causerie
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From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Chat
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From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
coming
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From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
complained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
concerning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
connected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
descending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
desired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
editor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/
every person
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
fortnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Islington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
Jasper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
libellous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
Milvain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
overtook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
paragraph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
premises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Reardon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
removal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and saw Whelpdale.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/
a person, without saying who
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
storey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
sub-editor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
the-Wisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and saw Whelpdale.
upstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘A man I know has just been made sub-editor of Chat, upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
week's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
Whelpdale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned and saw Whelpdale.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was more than a fortnight after Reardon’s removal to Islington when Jasper Milvain heard for the first time of what had happened.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Will-o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was coming down from the office of the Will-o’-the-Wisp one afternoon, after a talk with the editor concerning a paragraph in his last week’s causerie which had been complained of as libellous, and which would probably lead to the ‘case’ so much desired by everyone connected with the paper, when someone descending from a higher storey of the building overtook him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘What brings you on these premises?’ he asked, as they shook hands.