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The Daffodil Mystery
The Daffodil Mystery

Chapter XXVII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.
Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.
Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.
They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.
They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Daffodil Mystery

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.
Line 2
Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.
Line 3
Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.
Line 4
They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.
Line 5
They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

aroused

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

bed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

brown

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

coffee

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

contrast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

dapper

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

early

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

eloquent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

enjoyed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

floor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

following

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

haggard

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

hours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

inspector

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

latter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

maintained

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

minutes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

Mrs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

murdered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

night's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

o'clock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

own

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

police

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

Rider

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

rusty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

sat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

several

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

shirt-sleeves

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

sipping

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

sitting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

sleep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

sofa

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

stains

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

talking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

Tarling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

ten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though the latter had been aroused from his bed in the early hours of the morning, he at least had enjoyed a good night's sleep.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

THUMB-PRINT

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

tragedy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

train

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They sat sipping their coffee, neither man talking, and they maintained this silence for several minutes, each man following his own train of thought.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

weary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Tarling was haggard and weary, in contrast to the dapper inspector of police.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading They sat in the room in which Mrs. Rider had been murdered, and the rusty brown stains on the floor where Tarling had found her were eloquent of the tragedy.

Whiteside

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE THUMB-PRINT It was ten o'clock in the morning, and Whiteside and Tarling were sitting on a sofa in their shirt-sleeves, sipping their coffee.