AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
absoluteadjectiveUS /ˈæbsəluːt/
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
accusingadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːzɪŋ/
containing or expressing accusation
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “Is this another coincidence?” he asked.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Is this another coincidence?” he asked.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
CHAINnounUS /tʃeɪn/
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/
clothing in general
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
cobwebsnounUS /ˈkɑːbwebz/
plural of “cobweb” — a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
coincidencenounUS /koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/
an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
From this reading “Is this another coincidence?” he asked.
conductornounUS /kənˈdʌktər/
the person who leads a musical group
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
entangleverbUS /enˈtæŋɡəl/
entrap
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
findsnounUS /faɪndz/
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
FINEadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
flyverbUS /flaɪ/
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
futilitynounUS /fjuːˈtɪləti/
uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
GOLDnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
handkerchiefnounUS /ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Is this another coincidence?” he asked.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
hygienicadjective
tending to promote or preserve health
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Is this another coincidence?” he asked.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
leaveverbUS /liːv/
go away from a place
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
miredadjectiveUS /maɪrd/
entangled or hindered as if e.g. in mire
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
murderverbUS /ˈmɜːrdər/
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
remonstrancenoun
the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
sheetnounUS /ʃiːt/
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
shoesnounUS /ʃuːz/
a particular situation
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
silknounUS /sɪlk/
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
spoilverbUS /spɔɪl/
make a mess of, destroy or ruin
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading The men standing around had drawn off a little, and I saw the absolute futility of any remonstrance.
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
stickyadjectiveUS /ˈstɪki/
having the sticky properties of an adhesive
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Is this another coincidence?” he asked.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A FINE GOLD CHAIN The conductor held it out to me, his face sternly accusing.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Have you ever seen a fly, who, in these hygienic days, finding no cobwebs to entangle him, is caught in a sheet of fly paper, finds himself more and more mired, and is finally quiet with the sticky stillness of despair?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Did the man who left you his clothes and the barred silk handkerchief and the tight shoes leave you the spoil of the murder?”
