adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
accostingverbUS /əˈkɑːstɪŋ/
-ing form of “accost” — speak to someone
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
ADVENTUREverbUS /ædˈventʃər/
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
AgainadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/
at or in the front
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
armnounUS /ɑːrm/
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
behaviornounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
BILLYnounUS /ˈbɪli/
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
CitynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
compelledverbUS /kəmˈpeld/
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
dream-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
drugverbUS /drʌɡ/
administer a drug to
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
DURGIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
gesturenounUS /ˈdʒestʃər/
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
HotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
of an obscure nature
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
pairnounUS /per/
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
polishingnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃɪŋ/
the work of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing or waxing it
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
rigidlyadverbUS /ˈrɪdʒɪdli/
in a rigid manner
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
rushedadjectiveUS /rʌʃt/
done under pressure
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
sentnounUS /sent/
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
shoesnounUS /ʃuːz/
a particular situation
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
SLEUTHnounUS /sluːθ/
a detective who follows a trail
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
SolonnounUS /ˈsoʊlən/
a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
storenounUS /stɔːr/
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
tasknounUS /tæsk/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But instead of accosting me, as I had thought he meant to, he rushed by, with eyes rigidly ahead and his thin jaws grimly set.
ThroughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
wash-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
wavenounUS /weɪv/
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I had first observed him that afternoon as we passed the City Hotel.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
whereat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading Again, while we stood dream-bound before the window of the corner drug store, he had sent me a low whistle from across the street, following this with another puzzling arm wave; whereat he had started toward us.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading ADVENTURE OF BILLY DURGIN, SLEUTH I spoke to Solon of Billy Durgin, whose peculiar, not to say mysterious, behavior I had been compelled to notice.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
winkedverbUS /wɪŋkt/
past form of “wink” — signal by winking
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Through the window of the little wash-room, where I saw that he was polishing a pair of shoes, he had winked at me from over his task, and then erected himself to make a puzzling gesture with one hand.
