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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
abject
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From this reading The result was a fiasco, a fizzle, an abject failure.
actors
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From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "So _that's_ who you think I am, is it?" he chuckled.
amusement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The result was a fiasco, a fizzle, an abject failure.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
anger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
bewilderment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
burst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
chuckled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So _that's_ who you think I am, is it?" he chuckled.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
consummate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
dismay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
EitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
failure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a fiasco, a fizzle, an abject failure.
fiasco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a fiasco, a fizzle, an abject failure.
finally
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From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
fizzle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a fiasco, a fizzle, an abject failure.
fools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
gather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
heartyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑrti/
large, enthusiastic, and satisfying, especially of a meal
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
identity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
MAN
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From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD MAN.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
meanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
MYSTERY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD MAN.
narrowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD MAN.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a fiasco, a fizzle, an abject failure.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So _that's_ who you think I am, is it?" he chuckled.
springing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So _that's_ who you think I am, is it?" he chuckled.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD MAN.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "So _that's_ who you think I am, is it?" he chuckled.
THIRDnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD MAN.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
tolerably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading "So _that's_ who you think I am, is it?" he chuckled.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Either he was the most consummate of actors, or, as is more likely, I the most consummate of fools; for he looked at me at first with bewilderment, and then with amusement, and finally burst into a hearty laugh.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That my knowledge of his identity would come to him as a surprise, I was tolerably sure; and, in springing it thus suddenly upon him, I hoped to gather by his face, which I was watching narrowly meanwhile, whether he were moved by anger or by dismay.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "So _that's_ who you think I am, is it?" he chuckled.
