Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
abandoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
amusement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
antagonist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
astounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
baffling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
energetic and quick
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But this man—?”
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
completely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
development
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
elucidation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
figured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
fit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
goods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
Hallam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
Hallam's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
idiom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
incident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
inscrutable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
Kirkwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But this man—?”
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
More
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
mother-tongue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
perplexity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
silently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
stairway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
struggling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “But this man—?”
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had abandoned all thought of flight and escape.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood, who bowed silently, struggling to hide both his amusement and perplexity.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was too late; in the brisk idiom of his mother-tongue, he was “caught with the goods on.”
wits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than ever, now, the case presented a front inscrutable to his wits; try as he might, he failed to fit an explanation to any incident in which he had figured, while this last development—that his antagonist of the dark stairway had been Mrs. Hallam’s son!—seemed the most astounding of all, baffling elucidation completely.
