Vocabulary

_____________________________________________________

VOCABULARY

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER ONE

Strinking: striking/ˈstrʌɪkɪŋ/  ▶adjective 1 noticeable. 2 dramatically good-looking orv beautiful.

In “…which may be strinking and bizarre without…”

Laughing: laugh/lɑːf/ ▶verb. 1 make the sounds and movements that express lively amusement and sometimes also derision. ■ (laugh at) ridicule; scorn. 2 (laugh something off) dismiss something by treating it in a light-hearted way.  3 (be laughing) informal be in a fortunate or successful position. ▶noun 1 an act of laughing. 2 (a laugh) informal a person or thing that causes laughter.

In “…said Shelock Holmes, laughing. Only one…”

Whimsical: whimsical/ˈwɪmzɪkl/ ▶adjective. 1 playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way. 2 acting or behaving in a capricious manner. – derivatives whimsicality noun, whimsically adverb. 'whimsical' also found in these Oxford entries: maggot - take

 In “…Only one of those whimsical little incidents which…”

Punishment: /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ ▶noun. 1 the action of punishing or the state of being punished. ■ a penalty inflicted. 2 rough treatment.

In “…some mystery and the punishment of some crime…”

Square: square/skweə(r)/ ▶noun. 1 a plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles. ■ something that is the shape of a square or a cube. ■ historical a body of infantry drawn up in rectangular form.

In “…the space of  a few square miles…”

CHAPTER TWO

Upon: upon/əˈpɒn/ ▶preposition more formal term for on. – origin ME: from up + on, suggested by ON upp á.

In “…It arrived upon Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose…”

Fellow: fellow/ˈfeləʊ/ ▶noun 1 a man or boy. 2 a person in the same position or otherwise associated with another. ■ a thing of the same kind as or otherwise associated with another.

In “…is a very honest fellow, was returning from some…”

Shoulder: /ˈʃəʊldə(r)/ ▶noun 1 the joint between the upper arm or forelimb and the main part of the body. ■ the part of a bird or insect at which the wing is attached. ▶verb 1 put (something heavy) over one's shoulder or shoulders to carry.

In “…goose slung over his shoulder. As he reacheed…”

Rushing: rush, ▶verb: 1 move or act or cause to move or act with urgent haste; 2 (of air or a liquid) flow strongly; 3 dash towards (someone or something) in an attempt to attack or capture them.

In “…person in uniform rushing towards him, dropped…”

Wards: -ward (also -wards) ▶suffix 1 (usu. -wards) (forming adverbs) towards the specified place or direction: homewards. 2 (usu. -ward) (forming adjectives) turned or tending towards: upward.

In “…uniform rushing towards him, dropped his goose…”

Spoils: spoil/spɔɪl/ ▶verb (past and past part. spoilt (chiefly Brit.) or spoiled) 1 diminish or destroy the value or quality of.

CHAPTER THREE

Gather: gather/ˈɡaðə(r)/ ▶verb; 1 come or bring together; assemble or accumulate; 2 bring together and take in from scattered places or sources.

In “…what can you gather from this old battered…”

Disregarding: disregard/dɪsrɪˈɡɑːd/ ▶verb pay no attention to; ignore. ▶noun the action of disregarding or the state of being disregarded.

In “…he continued, disregarding my remonstrance…”

Leads: lead1 /liːd/ ▶verb (past and past part. led) 1 cause (a person or animal) to go with one by drawing them along. 2 (usu. lead to) be a route or means of access to a particular place.

In “…he is a man who leads a sedentary life…”

Fallen: ▶adjective 1 dated (of a woman) regarded as having lost her honour through engaging in extramarital sex; 2 killed in battle.

In “…although he has now fallen upon…”

Attempt: attempt/əˈtempt/ ▶verb make an effort to achieve or complete; ▶noun an act of attempting.  

In “…seemed to have been some attempt to hide the discolored …”

CHAPTER FOUR

Joking: ▶noun; 1 a thing said to cause amusement; 2 informal a ridiculously inadequate person or thing; ▶verb make jokes.

In “…You are certainly joking Holmes …”

Unable: unable/ʌnˈeɪbl/ ▶adjective lacking the skill, means, or opportunity to do something; 'unable' also found in these Oxford entries.

In “…that I am unable to follow you…”

Forehead: forehead /ˈfɔːhɛd/; ▶noun the part of the face above the eyebrows; origin OE forhēafod (see fore-, head).

In “…that I am unable to follow you…”

Brain: brain/breɪn/ ▶noun; 1 an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull, functioning as the coordinating centre of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity ■ (brains) the substance of an animal's brain used as food; 2 Intellectual capacity.

In “…a man with so large a brain must have something in it…”

Lining: Lining/ˈlʌɪnɪŋ/ ▶noun a layer of different material covering or attached to the inside of something.

In “…and the excellent lining. If this man could…”

CHAPTER FIVE

Might: 1▶modal verb (3rd sing. present might) past of may1; 1 used in reported speech to express possibility or permission.

In “…but he might be a bachelor…”

Allows: allow/əˈlaʊ/ ▶verb 1 let (someone) have or do something; 2 (often allow for) take into consideration when making plans or calculations; 3 admit the truth of.

In “…your wife allows you to go out in such a state…”

Shall: shall/ʃəl/ ▶modal verb (3rd sing. present shall); 1 (in the first person) expressing the future tense; 2 expressing a strong assertion or intention; 3 expressing an instruction or command; 4 used in questions indicating offers or suggestions.

In “…I shall fear that you also have been…”

Laid: laid/leɪd/ past and past participle of lay; Concise lay1▶verb (past and past part. laid); 1 put down, especially gently or carefully; 2 put down and set in position for use.

Goose: goose /guːs/ ▶noun (pl. geese /giːs/); 1 a large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short, broad bill. [Several genera in the family Anatidae.]    2 informal a foolish person; 3 (pl. gooses) a tailor's smoothing iron; ▶verb informal-1 poke (someone) in the bottom.

In “…bringing home the goose as a peace…”

CHAPTER SIX

Countess: /ˈkaʊntəs/ ▶noun the wife or widow of a count or earl. ■ a woman holding the rank of count or earl.

In “…"Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" …”

Unique: /juˈniːk/  ▶adjective

1 being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else. ■ (unique to) belonging or connected to (one particular person, place, or thing).

2 special or unusual.

In “…It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be conjectured …”

Reward: /rɪˈwɔːd/  ▶noun a thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement.

■ a fair return for good or bad behaviour. ■ a sum offered for the detection of a criminal, the restoration of lost property, etc. ▶verb give a reward to. ■ show one's appreciation of (an action or quality) by making a gift. ■ (be rewarded) receive what one deserves.

In “…but the reward offered of 1000 pounds …”

Afterwards:  /ˈɑːftəwədz/ (US also afterward /-wəd/)  ▶adverb at a later or future time.

– origin OE æftewearde, from æftan ‘aft’ + -wards, influenced by after. 'afterwards' also found in these Oxford entries:

In “…forced open, and that the small morocco casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was…”

Struggle: /ˈstrʌɡl/ ▶verb; 1 make forceful efforts to get free; 2 strive under difficult circumstances to do something. ■ have difficulty in gaining recognition or a living; 3 contend or compete; 4 make one's way with difficulty.

In “…gave evidence as to the arrest of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested…”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Thoughtfully: /ˈθɔːtfl/  ▶adjective 1 absorbed in or involving thought. ■ showing careful consideration or attention. 2 showing regard for other people.

In “…So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, tossing aside the paper…”

Gentleman: /ˈʤentlmən/ ▶noun (pl. gentlemen); 1 a courteous or honourable man; 2 a man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure; 3 (in polite or formal use) a man.

In “…the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat…”

undoubtedly [ʌnˈdaʊtɪdlɪ] adv

1. certainly or definitely; unquestionably he is undoubtedly talented

2. (sentence modifier) without doubt; certainly or indisputably undoubtedly there will be

In “…To do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers…”

Fail: /feɪl/  ▶verb 1 be unsuccessful in an undertaking. ■ be unable to meet the standards set by (a test). ■ judge (a candidate in an examination or test) not to have passed. 2 neglect to do something. ■ disappoint expectations: commuter chaos has failed to materialize. 3 stop working properly. ■ become weaker or worse. ■ go out of business. 4 desert or let down: her nerve failed her.

In “…the evening papers. If this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods…”

Approach: /əˈprəʊtʃ/  ▶verb 1 come near or nearer to in distance, time, or standard. ■ archaic bring nearer. 2 make an initial proposal to or request of. 3 start to deal with in a certain way. ▶noun 1 a way of dealing with something. 2 an initial proposal or request.3 the action of approaching.

In “…breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson that he thought of nothing…”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Sparkle: /ˈspɑːkl/  ▶verb 1 shine brightly with flashes of light. 2 be vivacious and witty. 3 (as adj. sparkling) (of drink) effervescent; fizzy. ▶noun 1 a glittering flash of light. 2 vivacity and wit.

In “…"It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and focus of crime…”

Bait: /beɪt/  ▶noun 1 food used to entice fish or other animals as prey. 2 variant spelling of bate1. ▶verb 1 deliberately annoy or taunt. 2 allow dogs to attack (a trapped or restrained animal). 3 put bait on (a hook) or in (a trap, net, etc.).

In “…They are the devil's pet baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a bloody deed …”

Bloody: ▶adjective (bloodier, bloodiest) 1 covered with or composed of blood. 2 involving much violence or cruelty. ▶verb (bloodies, bloodying, bloodied) cover or stain with blood.

In “…the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a bloody deed…”

Charcoal: /ˈtʃɑːkəʊl/  ▶noun; 1 a porous black form of carbon obtained as a residue when wood or other organic matter is heated in the absence of air. ■ a stick of charcoal used for drawing; 2 a dark grey colour.

In “…and several robberies brought about for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallized charcoal…”

Likely: /ˈlʌɪkli/  ▶adjective (likelier, likeliest) 1 such as well might happen or be true. 2 promising. ▶adverb probably. – phrases  a likely story! used to express disbelief.  As likely as not probably.  not likely! informal certainly not. – derivatives  likeliness noun.

In “…Henry Baker, had anything to do with the matter?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an absolutely innocent man…”

However: /haʊˈevə(r)/  ▶adverb; 1 used to introduce a statement contrasting with a previous one; 2 in whatever way.

In “…That, however, I shall determine by a very simple test if we have an answer to our advertisement…”

CHAPTER NINE

Greeting: /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/ ▶noun 1 a word or sign of welcome or recognition. ■ The action of greeting; 2 (usu. greetings) a formal expression of goodwill.

In “…I believe," said he, rising from his armchair and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he could so readily assume.…”

Shoulder: /ˈʃəʊldə(r)/  ▶noun; 1 the joint between the upper arm or forelimb and the main part of the body. ■ the part of a bird or insect at which the wing is attached; 2 a part of something resembling a shoulder, in particular a point at which a steep slope descends from a plateau or highland area; 3 short for hard shoulder. ▶verb 1 put (something heavy) over one's shoulder or shoulders to carry. 2 take on (a burden or responsibility). 3 push out of one's way with one's shoulder.

In “…He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of grizzled brown.…”

Sleeve: /sliːv/  ▶noun 1 the part of a garment that wholly or partly covers a person's arm. 2 a protective paper or cardboard cover for a record. ■ a protective or connecting tube fitting over a rod, spindle, or smaller tube; 3 a windsock.

In “…with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded from his sleeves without a sign.…”

Hopeless: /ˈhəʊpləs/  ▶adjective; 1 feeling or causing despair; 2 chiefly Brit. very bad or incompetent.

In “…I did not care to spend more money in a hopeless attempt at recovering them..…”

Acquaintance: /əˈkweɪntəns/  ▶noun; 1 the fact or state of being acquainted; 2 a person one knows slightly.

In “…the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are going to be to me…”

CHAPTER TEN

Glance^: ▶verb: 1 take a brief or hurried look. ■ (glance at/through) read quickly or cursorily; 2 (often glance off) strike at an angle and bounce off obliquely. ▶noun: 1 a brief or hurried look: 2 archaic a flash or gleam of light: 3 Cricket a stroke with the bat's face turned slantwise to deflect the ball slightly.

In “…Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird…”

Rise: /rʌɪz/  ▶verb (past rose; past part. risen): 1 come or go up. ■ reach a higher social or professional position. ■ (rise above) succeed in not being constrained by; 2 get up from lying, sitting, or kneeling; ■ chiefly Brit. (of a meeting or a session of a court) adjourn; 3 (of land) incline upwards ■ (of a structure or natural feature) be much taller than the surrounding landscape; 4 (of the sun, moon, or stars) appear above the horizon.

In “…Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm …”

Fitted: /ˈfɪtɪd/  ▶adjective 1 made to fill a space or to cover something closely. ■ Chiefly Brit. (of a room) equipped with matching units of furniture; 2 attached to or provided with a particular component or article; 3 (fitted for/to do) being fit for or to do: he wasn't fitted for the job.

In “…for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity…”

Pence: /pens/ Brit.  plural form of penny (used for sums of money); penny/ˈpeni/  ▶noun (pl. for separate coins pennies, for a sum of money pence)

In “…few pence every week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid…”

Behind: /bɪˈhʌɪnd/  ▶preposition & adverb; 1 at or to the far side of ■ hidden by; 2 further back than other members of a moving group; 3 in support of or giving guidance to; ■ guiding, controlling, or responsible for (an event or plan).

In “…So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him…”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Landlord: /ˈlandlɔːd/ ▶noun; 1 a man (in legal use also a woman) who leases land or property; 2 a man who keeps lodgings, a boarding house, or (Brit.) a pub.

In “…"Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, and prosperity to your house. Good-night. …”

Button: /ˈbʌtn/ ▶noun; 1 a small disc or knob sewn on to a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a buttonhole or for decoration; 2 chiefly N. Amer. a decorative badge pinned to clothing; 3 a knob on a piece of electrical or electronic equipment which is pressed to operate it; 4 Fencing a knob fitted to the point of a foil to make it harmless.

In “…"Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat as we came out into the frosty air…”

Frosty: /ˈfrɒsti/; ▶adjective (frostier, frostiest); 1 (of the weather) very cold with frost forming on surfaces; 2 cold and unfriendly.

In “…"up his coat as we came out into the frosty air…”

Homely: /ˈhəʊmli/  ▶adjective (homelier, homeliest); 1 Brit. simple but comfortable. ■ unsophisticated; 2 N. Amer. unattractive

In “…"Watson that though we have so homely a thing as a goose at one…”

Servitude: /ˈsəːvɪtjuːd/ ▶noun; 1 the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful; 2 Law, archaic the subjection of property to an easement.

In “…"we have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal servitude unless we can establish his innocence…”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Pester: /ˈpestə(r)/ ▶verb trouble or annoy with persistent requests or interruptions. – derivatives  pesterer noun. – origin C16: from Fr. empestrer ‘encumber’, influenced by pest.

In “…"You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am…”

Fuss: /fʌs/  ▶noun; 1 a display of unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest; 2 a protest or complaint. ▶verb; 1 show unnecessary or excessive concern; 2 Brit. disturb or bother; 3 treat (someone) with excessive attention or affection.

In “…"in the world, to hear the fuss that is made over them …”

Careless: (carelessly): /ˈkeələs/  ▶adjective; 1 not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or mistakes; 2 (careless of/about) not concerned or worried about.

In “…"said Holmes carelessly…”

Fowls: /faʊl/  ▶noun (pl. same or fowls) 1 (also domestic fowl) a domesticated bird derived from a junglefowl and kept for its eggs or flesh; a cock or hen. ■ any domesticated bird, e.g. a turkey. ■ used in the names of birds that resemble the domestic fowl, e.g. spurfowl; 2 birds collectively, especially as the quarry of hunters.

In “…"I'm always ready to back my opinion on a matter of fowls …”

Fiver: /ˈfʌɪvə(r)/  ▶noun; 1 Brit. informal a five-pound note; 2 N. Amer. a five-dollar bill.

In “…"Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the salesman …”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Pocket: /ˈpɒkɪt/ ▶noun: 1 a small bag sewn into or on clothing so as to form part of it, used for carrying small articles ■ a pouch-like compartment providing separate storage space. ■ (one's pocket) informal one's financial resources: 2 a small, isolated patch, group, or area: 3 Billiards & Snooker an opening at the corner or on the side of a billiard table into which balls are struck.

In “…"He drew a sovereign from his pocket and threw it down upon the slab…”

Whiskers: /ˈwɪskə(r)/ ▶noun; 1 a long projecting hair or bristle growing from the face or snout of an animal such as a cat ■ (whiskers) the hair growing on a man's face, especially on his cheeks; 2 (a whisker) informal a very small amount; 3 a single crystal of a material in the form of a filament with no dislocations.

In “…"When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet…”

Yards: ▶noun; 1 (abbrev.: yd) a unit of linear measure equal to 3 feet (0.9144 metre) ■ a square or cubic yard, especially of sand or other building materials; 2 a cylindrical spar, tapering to each end, slung across a ship's mast for a sail to hang from; 3 US informal one hundred dollars.

Yards: ▶noun 1 chiefly Brit. a piece of uncultivated ground adjoining a building, typically one enclosed by walls. ■ an area of land used for a particular purpose or business: a builder's yard; 2 N. Amer. the garden of a house; 3 W. Indian a house and the land attached.

In “…"A few yards off he stopped under a lamppost and laughed in the hearty …”

Fancy: /ˈfansi/ ▶verb (fancies, fancying, fancied); 1 Brit. informal feel a desire for. ■ find sexually attractive; 2 Brit. regard as a likely winner; 3 imagine.

In “…"we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is whether…”

Matter: /ˈmatə(r)/ ▶noun; 1 physical substance or material in general; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses mass, especially as distinct from energy. ■ a particular substance: organic matter; 2 an affair or situation under consideration; a topic. ■ (matters) the present state of affairs; 3 [usu. with neg. or in questions] (the matter) the reason for a problem: what's the matter?; 4 written or printed material. ■ Printing the body of a printed work, as distinct from titles, headings, etc; 5 Logic the particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form; 6 Law something which is to be tried or proved in court; a case.

In “…"there are others besides ourselves who are anxious about the matter, and I should…”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Lounged: /laʊnʤ/  ▶verb recline or stand in a relaxed or lazy way. ▶noun 1 Brit. a sitting room. ■ a public sitting room in a hotel or theatre. ■ a seating area in an airport for waiting passengers; 2 Brit. a spell of lounging. Striding through the scattered knots of people who lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the little man and touched him upon the shoulder.

In “…"Striding through the scattered knots of people who lounged round the flaring stalls …”

Gaslight: /ˈɡaslʌɪt/ ▶noun light from lamps in which an incandescent mantle is heated by a jet of burning gas. – derivatives gaslit adjective.

In “…"and I could see in the gaslight that every vestige of colour had been driven from his face …”

Quaver: /ˈkweɪvə(r)/  ▶verb (of a voice) tremble. ▶noun; 1 a tremble in a voice; 2 Music, chiefly Brit. a note having the value of an eighth of a semibreve or half a; crotchet, represented by a large dot with a hooked stem.

In “…"he asked in a quavering voice. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly…”

Endeavor: (endeavouring) /ɪnˈdɛvə, ɛn-/ (US endeavor) ▶verb try hard to do or achieve ▶noun; 1 an act of endeavouring; an enterprise; 2 earnest and industrious effort.

In “…"You are endeavouring to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs…”

Sidelong: /ˈsʌɪdlɒŋ/ ▶adjective & adverb directed to or from one side; sideways. – origin ME: alt. of earlier sideling, from side + the adverbial suffix -ling. 'sidelong' also found in these Oxford entries.

In “…"he answered with a sidelong glance…”

Disown: /dɪsˈəʊn/ ▶verb refuse to acknowledge or maintain any connection with. – derivatives disowner noun,  disownment noun.

In “…"he answered with a sidelong glance…”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Cheery: (Cheerily) /ˈtʃɪəri/  ▶adjective (cheerier, cheeriest) happy and optimistic. – derivatives  cheerily adverb,  cheeriness noun.

In “…"he answered with a sidelong glance…”

Slipper: /ˈslɪpə(r)/  ▶noun a comfortable slip-on shoe that is worn indoors. ■ a light slip-on shoe, especially one used for dancing. ▶verb beat with a slipper. – derivatives  slippered adjective.

In “…"I will just put on my slippers before we settle this little matter…”

Clutch: (clutched); ▶verb grasp tightly ■ (clutch at) seize eagerly or in desperation: he clutched at the idea ▶noun; 1 a tight grasp; 2 (clutches) power or control: she was about to fall into his clutches; 3 a mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the engine and the transmission system in a vehicle, or the working parts of any machine; 4 N. Amer. a clutch bag. – origin ME (in the sense ‘bend, crook’): var. of obs. clitch ‘close the hand’, from OE clyccan ‘crook, clench’, of Gmc origin. Clutch: ▶noun; 1 a group of eggs fertilized at the same time, laid in a single session and (in birds) incubated together ■ a brood of chicks; 2 a small group of people or things.

In “…"Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece with his right hand…”

Strongbox: /ˈstrɒŋbɒks/ ▶noun a small lockable metal box in which valuables may be kept.

In “…"Holmes unlocked his strongbox and held up the blue carbuncle…”

Disown: /dɪsˈəʊn/  ▶verb refuse to acknowledge or maintain any connection with. – derivatives disowner noun,  disownment noun.

In “…"Ryder stood glaring with a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it …”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Swear: /sweə(r)/ ▶verb (swears, swearing; past swore; past part. sworn); 1 state or promise solemnly or on oath. ■ (swear someone in) admit someone to a position or office by directing them to take a formal oath. ■ compel to observe a certain course of action: I am sworn to secrecy. ■ (swear to) give an assurance that something is the case. ■ (swear off) informal promise to abstain from. ■ (swear by) informal have or express great confidence in. ■ (swear something out) US Law obtain the issue of a warrant for arrest by making a charge on oath; 2 use offensive language, especially to express anger.

In “…"I swear it. I'll swear it on a Bible…”

Sake: /seɪk/ ▶noun; 1 (for the sake of something) for the purpose of or in the interest of something; in order to achieve or preserve something ■ (for its own sake or something for something's sake or for the sake of it) indicating something that is done as an end in itself rather than to achieve some other purpose ■ (for old times' sake) in acknowledgement of a shared past; 2 (for the sake of someone) out of consideration for or in order to help someone; 3 (for God's or goodness etc. sake) expressing impatience, annoyance, urgency, or desperation.

In “…"Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's sake, don't!"…”

Safety: /ˈseɪfti/ ▶noun (pl. safeties); 1 the condition of being safe ■ [as modifier] denoting something designed to prevent injury or damage: a safety barrier; 2 US informal a condom; 3 American Football a defensive back who plays in a deep position; 4 American Football a play in which the ball is downed by the offence in their own end zone, scoring two points to the defence.

In “…"for there lies your only hope of safety "…”

Upset: ▶verb /ʌpˈsɛt/ (upsets, upsetting; past and past part. upset); 1 make unhappy, disappointed, or worried; 2 knock over; 3 disrupt.

In “…"I had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel"…”

Pour: (pouring) /pɔː(r)/ ▶verb; 1 flow or cause to flow in a steady stream ■ prepare and serve (a drink); 2 (of rain) fall heavily; 3 (of people or things) come or go in a steady stream; 4 (pour something out) express one's feelings in an unrestrained way.

In “…"the sweat was pouring down"…”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Huffed: /hʌf/  ▶verb; 1 (often huff and puff) blow out air noisily; 2 show annoyance in an obvious way; 3 N. Amer. informal sniff fumes from (petrol or solvents) for a euphoric effect; 4 (in draughts) remove (an opponent's piece that could have made a capture) from the board as a forfeit

In “…"said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it you want, then?"…”

Tail: ▶noun; 1 the hindmost part of an animal, especially when extended beyond the rest of the body, such as the flexible extension of the backbone in a vertebrate or the feathers at the hind end of a bird; 2 something extending downwards, outwards, or back like an animal's tail ■ the rear part of an aircraft, with the tailplane and rudder. ■ The luminous trail of particles following a comet.

▶verb; 1 informal secretly follow and observe (someone); 2 (tail off/away) gradually diminish in amount or intensity ■ (tail back) Brit. (of traffic) become congested and form a tailback.

In “…"That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the flock?"…”

Mistake: /mɪˈsteɪk/ ▶noun something which is not correct; an inaccuracy. ■ an act or judgement that is misguided or wrong. ▶verb (past mistook; past part. mistaken) be wrong about.

In “…"I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred "…”

Rushed: rush:  ▶verb; 1 move or act or cause to move or act with urgent haste. ■ take somewhere with urgent haste. ■ (rush something out) produce and distribute something very quickly. ■ deal with (something) hurriedly; 2 (of air or a liquid) flow strongly; 3 dash towards (someone or something) in an attempt to attack or capture them or it.

In “…"I left the bird rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard "…”

Handling: handle: /ˈhandl/  ▶verb; 1 feel or manipulate with the hands; 2 manage or cope with (a situation, person, or problem) ■ control or manage commercially ■ deal with ■ receive or deal in (stolen goods); 3 drive or control a vehicle ■ (of a vehicle) respond or behave in a specified way when being driven: the new model does not handle well; 4 (handle oneself) conduct oneself.

In “…"I'd rather have that one I was handling just now "…”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Tail: Tailed: ▶noun 1 the hindmost part of an animal, especially when extended beyond the rest of the body, such as the flexible extension of the backbone in a vertebrate or the feathers at the hind end of a bird; 2 something extending downwards, outwards, or back like an animal's tail ■ the rear part of an aircraft, with the tailplane and rudder ■ the luminous trail of particles following a comet; 3 the final, more distant, or weaker part: the tail of a hurricane; ■ Cricket the end of the batting order, with the weakest batsmen; 4 the lower or hanging part at the back of a shirt or coat; ■ (tails) informal a tailcoat, or a man's formal evening suit with such a coat.

In “…"Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never tell them apart"…”

Collapse: /kəˈlaps/ ▶verb; 1 (of a structure) suddenly fall down or give way ■ (usu. as adj. collapsed) (of a lung or blood vessel) fall inwards and become flat and empty; 2 fall down as a result of illness or injury; 3 fail suddenly and completely ▶noun; 1 an instance of a structure collapsing; 2 a sudden failure or breakdown.

In “…"but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must collapse "…”

Suppose: /səˈpəʊz/ ▶verb; 1 think or assume that something is true or probable, but without proof ■ (of a theory or argument) assume or require that something is the case as a precondition ■ [in imper.] used to introduce a suggestion; 2 (be supposed to do something) be required or expected to do something.

In “…"I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just possible that I am saving a soul"…”

Whimsical: /ˈwɪmzɪkl/ ▶ adjective; 1 playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way; 2 acting or behaving in a capricious manner.

In “…"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem"…”

Goodness: /ˈɡʊdnəs/ ▶noun; 1 the quality of being good; 2 the beneficial element of food.

In “…"If you will have the goodness to touch the bell"…”