AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
after-events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
anteroomnoun
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
besetverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
confusedadjectiveUS /kənˈfjuːzd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
DexteradjectiveUS /ˈdekstər/
on or starting from the wearer's right
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
Dexter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
disturbedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbd/
having the place or position changed
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
doubtsnounUS /daʊts/
plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
guessverbUS /ɡes/
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
ingenuitynounUS /ˌɪndʒəˈnuːətiː/
the power of creative imagination
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
innocentlyadverbUS /ˈɪnəsəntli/
in a not unlawful manner
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
LITTLEadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
Miserrimus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/
put or confide something in a person or thing
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
speculationsnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “speculation” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
StartlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was plain that I had (quite innocently) disturbed the repose of some formidable secrets in Miserrimus Dexter’s mind.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Startling doubts beset me as I walked restlessly backward and forward, now in the anteroom, and now in the corridor outside.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
weariedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrid/
exhausted
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A LITTLE interval of solitude was a relief to me, as well as to Miserrimus Dexter.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I confused and wearied my poor brains in trying to guess what the secrets might be.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All my ingenuity--as after-events showed me--was wasted on speculations not one of which even approached the truth.
