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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 Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
absorbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
also
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From this reading The young girl also was silent.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
bone-rimmed
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From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
bony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
brain
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From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
clue
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From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
connection
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From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
definite
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From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
END
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From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
ensure
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From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
existed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
fidgeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young girl also was silent.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
hammering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
haunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
havoc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
hideous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
inexplicablenounUS /inexplicable/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
knots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
knuckles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
lean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
meditation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
ones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
persistently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
recollect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
sarcastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
scarecrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
self-conceited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young girl also was silent.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
spectacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE END He had paused, absorbed in meditation.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
tiresome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
tragic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
triumph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
undo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The young girl also was silent.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was watching her through his great bone-rimmed spectacles, and she could see the knuckles of his bony hands, just above the top of the table, fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting, till she wondered if there existed another set of fingers in the world which could undo the knots his lean ones made in that tiresome piece of string.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That thought was the inexplicable feeling within her that there was something in connection with that hideous crime which she ought to recollect, something which--if she could only remember what it was--would give her the clue to the tragic mystery, and for once ensure her triumph over this self-conceited and sarcastic scarecrow in the corner.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Some memory too vague as yet to take a definite form was persistently haunting her--one thought was hammering away in her brain, and playing havoc with her nerves.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young girl also was silent.