adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
abruptlyadverbUS /əˈbrʌptli/
quickly and without warning
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
BritishnounUS /ˈbrɪtɪʃ/
the people of Great Britain
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
calmverbUS /kɑːm/
make calm or still
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
CooladjectiveUS /kuːl/
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
couragenounUS /ˈkɜːrədʒ/
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
cutsnounUS /kʌts/
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
exercisedverbUS /ˈeksərsaɪzd/
past form of “exercise” — put to use
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
gentlemennounUS /ˈdʒentəlmɪn/
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/
the act of giving
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
lungingverbUS /ˈlʌndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “lunge” — make a thrusting forward movement
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
markverbUS /mɑːrk/
attach a tag or label to
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
master-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Unhappily, they were not there.
obscuritynounUS /əbsˈkjʊrəti/
the quality of being unclear or abstruse and hard to understand
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
playverbUS /pleɪ/
participate in games or sport
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
skulkingnounUS /ˈskʌlkɪŋ/
evading duty or work by pretending to be incapacitated
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
slamverbUS /slæm/
close violently
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
startingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtɪŋ/
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Unhappily, they were not there.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
thrustsnounUS /θrʌsts/
plural of “thrust” — the force used in pushing
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading “Cool and calm--British courage, that is the true sort, gentlemen.”
UnhappilyadverbUS /ənˈhæpəli/
in an unpleasant way
From this reading Unhappily, they were not there.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading At the garden end he opened the heavy iron door, violently and abruptly so that it should slam against the outer wall.
wagernounUS /ˈweɪdʒər/
the act of gambling
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
wardingverbUS /ˈwɔːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “ward” — watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Unhappily, they were not there.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If “they” had been skulking behind it, you may wager they would have been jam.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Before starting, in the silence and obscurity of his study, he exercised himself for a while, warding off imaginary cuts and thrusts, lunging at the wall, and giving his muscles play; then he took his master-key and went through the garden leisurely; without hurrying, mark you.
