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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 “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
able
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From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But let us reason it out.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
explained
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From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
father
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From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
four
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From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
general
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From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But let us reason it out.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But let us reason it out.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
Natacha
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From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
neck
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From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
one's
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From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
only
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From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
out
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From this reading But let us reason it out.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
poison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
poisoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
reason
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From this reading But let us reason it out.
rope
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From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
Sire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
step-mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But let us reason it out.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We have here four persons, two of whom have been poisoned and the other two with them have not been.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, it is certain that, of the four persons, the general has not wished to poison himself, that his wife has not wished to poison the general, and that, as for me, I have not wished to poison anybody.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “There are some things so simple, Sire, that one is able to think of them only with a rope around one’s neck.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I will understand you, perhaps, when you have explained to me how Natacha has not poisoned her father and step-mother.”
