adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
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 At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
arrangingnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
bookstallnoun
a shop where books are sold
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
brainnounUS /breɪn/
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
BrooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
contentedadjectiveUS /kənˈtentəd/
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
fantasticadjectiveUS /fænˈtæstɪk/
ludicrously odd
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
formsnounUS /fɔːrmz/
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
grotesquelyadverbUS /ɡroʊˈteskli/
in a grotesque manner
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
improbableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɑːbəbəl/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
kaleidoscopicadjective
continually shifting or rapidly changing
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
Linchmere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
LordnounUS /lɔːrd/
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
Paddington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
plentynounUS /ˈplenti/
a full supply
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
rearrangingverbUS /ˌriːərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “rearrange” — put into a new order or arrangement
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
specimen-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
StreetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
valisenoun
a small overnight bag for short trips
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading With a hand valise, specimen-case, and a loaded cane, I was waiting at the Paddington bookstall when Lord Linchmere arrived.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole fantastic business kept arranging and rearranging itself in kaleidoscopic forms inside my brain, until I had thought out a dozen explanations, each of them more grotesquely improbable than the last.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At last I gave up all attempts at finding a solution, and contented myself with exactly carrying out the instructions which I had received.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet I felt that the truth must be something grotesquely improbable also.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You may imagine that I had plenty to think of from the time that I left Brook Street until I set out to meet Lord Linchmere at Paddington.
