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The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley
The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley is here in full — 216 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.
Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?
Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?
John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.
Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley is here in full — 216 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.
Line 2
Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?
/meɪd ɪn ðə juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts ʌv əˈmerəkə dʌz æn ˈiːvəl diːd kæst ə ˈʃæd.oʊ ɪn ədˈvæns/
Line 3
Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?
Line 4
John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.
Line 5
Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.
/ˈiːvɪn ðə sʌn bɪˈkeɪm ə praɪm ˈeɪdʒənt ʌv ðə əˈkʌlt ðæt ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

aura noun US /ˈɔːrə/

a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure

From this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

baleful adjective US /ˈbeɪlfəl/

deadly or sinister

From this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

epilepsy noun US /ˈepəlepsi/

a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions

From this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

forewarning noun US /fɔːrˈwɔːrnɪŋ/

an early warning about a future event

From this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

hysteria noun US /hɪˈsteriə/

state of violent mental agitation

From this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

outstanding adjective US /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/

distinguished from others in excellence

From this reading “John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.”

premeditated adjective US /priˈmedəteɪtɪd/

characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning

From this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

temperaments noun US /ˈtemprəmənts/

plural of “temperament” — your usual mood

From this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

five years noun + noun

In this reading “John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.”

evil deed noun + noun

In this reading “Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?”

into oblivion preposition + noun

In this reading “John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.”

cast a shadow verb + article + noun counted as “cast … shadow”

In this reading “Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?”

cold air adjective + noun

In this reading “Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?”

in the City preposition + article + noun counted as “in … city”

In this reading “John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.”

All words in this reading · 99

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1912

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/

move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

affectsnounUS /əˈfekts/

plural of “affect” — the conscious subjective aspect of feeling or emotion

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

auranounUS /ˈɔːrə/

a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

balefuladjectiveUS /ˈbeɪlfəl/

deadly or sinister

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

CasenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

castverbUS /kæst/

put or send forth

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

ceasedverbUS /siːst/

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

CitynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

crimenounUS /kraɪm/

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

deednounUS /diːd/

a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

Doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

epilepsynounUS /ˈepəlepsi/

a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

ETC

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.

EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

evilnounUS /ˈiːvəl/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

Fenley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

forewarningnounUS /fɔːrˈwɔːrnɪŋ/

an early warning about a future event

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

highly-strung

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

hysterianounUS /hɪˈsteriə/

state of violent mental agitation

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

MadeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

MORNINGnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.

MortimernounUS /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/

English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

murderverbUS /ˈmɜːrdər/

kill intentionally and with premeditation

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

NUMBERnounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.

oblivionnounUS /əˈblɪviən/

the state of being disregarded or forgotten

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

occultverbUS /əˈkʌlt/

cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention

From this reading Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

outstandingadjectiveUS /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/

distinguished from others in excellence

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

premeditatedadjectiveUS /priˈmedəteɪtɪd/

characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

primeadjectiveUS /praɪm/

first in rank or degree

From this reading Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.

prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/

having a quality that thrusts itself into attention

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

sensationnounUS /senˈseɪʃən/

an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

SEVENTEENadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/

being one more than sixteen

From this reading THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

spinenounUS /spaɪn/

the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

spreadverbUS /spred/

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

StrangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.

sweptadjectiveUS /swept/

possessing sweep

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

temperamentsnounUS /ˈtemprəmənts/

plural of “temperament” — your usual mood

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Even the sun became a prime agent of the occult that morning.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

Trenholme

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading Made in the United States of America Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance?

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

wavenounUS /weɪv/

one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria?

WINGSnounUS /wɪŋz/

a means of flight or ascent

From this reading THE WINGS OF THE MORNING, NUMBER SEVENTEEN, ETC.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent man in the City of London came to be known, have long since been swept into oblivion by nearly five years of war.

Chapter 1 of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley by Louis Tracy holds 216 sentences, grouped into 44 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley contain?

Chapter 1 holds 216 sentences of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley by Louis Tracy exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 216 sentences, grouped into 44 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley?

Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 44 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley

Common questions about reading The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley by Louis Tracy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley?

Yes. All 5154 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26447 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #26447, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley take to read?

About 429 minutes of reading across 1031 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley section by section

How to work through The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Wings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Morning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Number
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Seventeen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.