adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
affairnounUS /əˈfer/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
blackmailverbUS /ˈblækmeɪl/
exert pressure on someone through threats
From this reading "Why, they're going to blackmail Merkle, too," Lilas exclaimed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
connectedadjectiveUS /kəˈnektɪd/
being joined in close association
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
crypticadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪptɪk/
of an obscure nature
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
discreditablyadverb
in a dishonorable manner or to a dishonorable degree
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Why, they're going to blackmail Merkle, too," Lilas exclaimed.
foolishadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪʃ/
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
gainedverbUS /ɡeɪnd/
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading "Why, they're going to blackmail Merkle, too," Lilas exclaimed.
Hammon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
Jarvis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
Lilas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
LoreleinounUS /ˈlɔːrɪlaɪ/
a Siren of German legend who lured boatmen in the Rhine to destruction
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
Merkle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, they're going to blackmail Merkle, too," Lilas exclaimed.
Merkle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
millionairesnounUS /ˌmɪljəˈnerz/
plural of “millionaire” — a person whose material wealth is valued at more than a million dollars
From this reading Two millionaires out with two showgirls!
mystifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstəfaɪd/
totally perplexed and mixed up
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
notenounUS /noʊt/
a brief written record
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Two millionaires out with two showgirls!
possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
showgirlsnounUS /ˈʃoʊɡɜːrlz/
plural of “showgirl” — a woman who dances in a chorus line
From this reading Two millionaires out with two showgirls!
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
they'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, they're going to blackmail Merkle, too," Lilas exclaimed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "Why, they're going to blackmail Merkle, too," Lilas exclaimed.
TwonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two millionaires out with two showgirls!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
WelladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She gained some light, however, when that evening she read the note to Lilas.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, they're going to blackmail Merkle, too," Lilas exclaimed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, they'd be foolish to let him off, wouldn't they?
writernounUS /ˈraɪtər/
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Lorelei was not a little mystified by Merkle's cryptic message, for she could imagine no possible way in which she or the writer himself could be connected discreditably with Jarvis Hammon's affair.
