81 words to know before reading A Study in Scarlet

1. Memories or recollections of past events.
2. A spoken or written account of remembered experiences.

VI A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson, M.D. Our prisoner’s furious resistance did not apparently indicate any ferocity

1. A fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
2. The main character in the "Sherlock Holmes" series.

I Mr. Sherlock Holmes In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and

1. A surname of English origin, famously associated with Sherlock Holmes, a fictional detective.
2. Slang term for a detective or investigator, inspired by Sherlock Holmes.

I Mr. Sherlock Holmes In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and

1. Used to emphasize a statement or response.
2. Truly or certainly (often expressing agreement).

of men now walking the earth who would long ago have paid the penalty of their crimes.” “Indeed!” I murmured. “Criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point. A man is suspected of

1. Intense and eager enjoyment or interest in something.
2. A strong feeling of excitement or passion for an activity or cause.

In old days Stamford had never been a particular crony of mine, but now I hailed him with enthusiasm, and he, in his turn, appeared to be delighted to see me. In the exuberance of my joy, I asked

1. Feeling or showing great pleasure or happiness.
2. Highly pleased or gratified.

crony of mine, but now I hailed him with enthusiasm, and he, in his turn, appeared to be delighted to see me. In the exuberance of my joy, I asked him to lunch with me at the Holborn, and we

1. Said something in response or comment.
2. Noticed or observed something noteworthy.

Call it the Police News of the Past.” “Very interesting reading it might be made, too,” remarked Sherlock Holmes, sticking a small piece of plaster over the prick on his finger. “I have to be

1. Marks or discolorations left on a surface by a substance.
2. To color or dye something, often for microscopic study.

So is the microscopic examination for blood corpuscles. The latter is valueless if the stains are a few hours old. Now, this appears to act as well whether the blood is old or new. Had this

1. The act of subtracting or taking away an amount.
2. A conclusion reached by reasoning from evidence.

II The Science of Deduction We met next day as he had arranged, and inspected the rooms at No. 221B, Baker Street, of which

1. To undo twisted, knitted, or woven threads.
2. To solve or clarify a complex problem or mystery.

I pocket my fee.” “But do you mean to say,” I said, “that without leaving your room you can unravel some knot which other men can make nothing of, although they have seen every detail for

1. Worthy of attention; striking or unusual.
2. Exceptionally good or impressive.

would give him an entrance into the learned world. Yet his zeal for certain studies was remarkable, and within eccentric limits his knowledge was so extraordinarily ample and minute that his

1. Nothing; zero (often used in sports scores).
2. A nonexistent or negligible amount.

had completed it. It ran in this way— Sherlock Holmes—His Limits. 1. Knowledge of Literature. Nil. 2. Philosophy. Nil. 3. Astronomy. Nil. 4. Politics. Feeble. 5. Botany. Variable. Well up in

1. Empty or unoccupied (e.g., a vacant seat).
2. Lacking thought or intelligence (e.g., a vacant stare).

When I looked at him he had finished reading the note, and his eyes had assumed the vacant, lacklustre expression which showed mental abstraction. “How in the world did you deduce that?” I

1. To reach a conclusion by reasoning or evidence.
2. To infer or derive logically from facts or premises.

the vacant, lacklustre expression which showed mental abstraction. “How in the world did you deduce that?” I asked. “Deduce what?” said he, petulantly. “Why, that he was a retired sergeant of

1. A feeling of deep sadness or sorrow, often without a clear cause.
2. A pensive or reflective sadness, sometimes with a poetic quality.

at the fiddle which was thrown across his knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy. Occasionally they were fantastic and cheerful. Clearly they reflected the thoughts which

1. A region in southeastern France known for its wine and historic cities.
2. A poetic or archaic term for a frenzied or ecstatic state.

down by the body, and then you walked through and tried the kitchen door, and then—” John Rance sprang to his feet with a frightened face and suspicion in his eyes. “Where was you hid to see

1. A long, decisive step when walking or running.
2. To walk with long, purposeful steps.

calculation enough, though there is no use my boring you with figures. I had this fellow’s stride both on the clay outside and on the dust within. Then I had a way of checking my calculation.

1. Relating to the Normans, a medieval people of Normandy, France.
2. A style of architecture developed by the Normans, characterized by rounded arches.

however, on which to start. We must hurry up, for I want to go to Halle’s concert to hear Norman Neruda this afternoon.” This conversation had occurred while our cab had been threading its way

1. A police officer of the lowest rank.
2. A peace officer with limited policing authority, often in small towns.

a small slip of brass on which the name Rance was engraved. On enquiry we found that the constable was in bed, and we were shown into a little front parlour to await his coming. He appeared

1. A person's face or facial expression.
2. Support or approval of something.

into it. Every time that I closed my eyes I saw before me the distorted baboon-like countenance of the murdered man. So sinister was the impression which that face had produced upon me that I

1. The reflexive form of "you," referring to the person being addressed.
2. Used to emphasize the subject "you."

allay the suspicions which might have been aroused by his appearance at the gate. Now put yourself in that man’s place. On thinking the matter over, it must have occurred to him that it was

1. A person who helps another commit a crime or wrongdoing.
2. A partner or associate in an illegal or unethical act.

in an ulster and a cravat. “I’ll follow her,” he said, hurriedly; “she must be an accomplice, and will lead me to him. Wait up for me.” The hall door had hardly slammed behind our visitor

1. A stringed musical instrument played with a bow.
2. Has four strings and a hollow wooden body.

of rows?” he asked, anxiously. “It depends on the player,” I answered. “A well-played violin is a treat for the gods—a badly-played one—” “Oh, that’s all right,” he cried, with a merry

1. Weak or lacking strength (physical or mental).
2. Faint or lacking intensity (e.g., light, sound).

face of my companion as he listened to it. It came slowly along the passage, and there was a feeble tap at the door. “Come in,” I cried. At my summons, instead of the man of violence whom we

1. A formal gesture of respect or greeting made by women, involving bending the knees while lowering the body.
2. A polite or submissive bow, often performed in formal or traditional settings.

the apartment. She appeared to be dazzled by the sudden blaze of light, and after dropping a curtsey, she stood blinking at us with her bleared eyes and fumbling in her pocket with nervous, shaky

1. An old woman, often depicted as ugly or malicious in folklore.
2. A term for a wise elder woman, sometimes with mystical qualities.

such a disconsolate expression that it was all I could do to keep my countenance. The old crone drew out an evening paper, and pointed at our advertisement. “It’s this as has brought me, good

1. Hinting at or suggesting something indirectly.
2. Making a casual or passing reference to something.

had, no doubt, infringed their unwritten laws, and been tracked down by them. After alluding airily to the Vehmgericht, aqua Tofana, Carbonari, the Marchioness de Brinvilliers, the Darwinian

1. A title of respect for a woman, equivalent to "Mrs." or "Madam."
2. Used to address or refer to a woman in a formal or polite manner.

us be frank with this gentleman. We did see Mr. Drebber again.’ “ ‘God forgive you!’ cried Madame Charpentier, throwing up her hands and sinking back in her chair. ‘You have murdered your

1. Being with someone or something else, often for support or company.
2. Having additional elements or features present alongside the main item.

at the boardinghouse of Madame Charpentier, in Torquay Terrace, Camberwell. He was accompanied in his travels by his private secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson. The two bade adieu to their

1. Physical or mental efforts made to achieve something.
2. The act of applying force or influence.

V Our Advertisement Brings a Visitor Our morning’s exertions had been too much for my weak health, and I was tired out in the afternoon. After Holmes’

1. The hair above the eyes (also spelled 'eyebrows').
2. The act of looking through or scanning something casually (e.g., browsing the internet).

He continued to walk up and down the room with his head sunk on his chest and his brows drawn down, as was his habit when lost in thought. “There will be no more murders,” he said at

1. The area near or surrounding a particular place.
2. The state of being close in space or relationship.

American boats. I then set to work calling upon all the hotels and lodging-houses in the vicinity of Euston. You see, I argued that if Drebber and his companion had become separated, the natural

1. Located on a lower floor of a building.
2. Toward or on a lower floor.

corridor leading up to it. The Boots pointed out the door to me, and was about to go downstairs again when I saw something that made me feel sickish, in spite of my twenty years’ experience.

1. A small, energetic dog breed originally bred for hunting.
2. A member of the Territorial Army in the UK.

to the box, cut the other pill in two, dissolved it, added milk, and presented it to the terrier. The unfortunate creature’s tongue seemed hardly to have been moistened in it before it gave a

1. A base that dissolves in water, forming hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
2. A soluble mineral salt found in arid soils.

I On the Great Alkali Plain In the central portion of the great North American Continent there lies an arid and

1. A mountain range with a jagged or irregular profile.
2. A Spanish word meaning "saw," often used to describe serrated mountain ranges.

In the whole world there can be no more dreary view than that from the northern slope of the Sierra Blanco. As far as the eye can reach stretches the great flat plain-land, all dusted over with

1. Used as a reflexive pronoun to refer to a group previously mentioned.
2. Used for emphasis to refer to a group previously mentioned.

rifles. On reaching the base of the bluff they halted, and held a short council among themselves. “The wells are to the right, my brothers,” said one, a hard-lipped, clean-shaven man with

1. A group of travelers journeying together, often in a line of vehicles or animals.
2. A large vehicle equipped for living in, typically towed by a car.

to oxen, and the latter to men. For fifteen hundred miles one may trace this ghastly caravan route by these scattered remains of those who had fallen by the wayside. Looking down on this

1. A large, rounded rock or stone.
2. A city in Colorado, USA, known for its outdoor activities and the University of Colorado.

their eyes. On the little plateau which crowned the barren hill there stood a single giant boulder, and against this boulder there lay a tall man, long-bearded and hard-featured, but of an

1. A piece of fabric worn over the shoulders or head for warmth or fashion.
2. A large rectangular or square cloth draped around the body.

come in on the choruses.” “Then you’ll need to kneel down, and me too,” she said, laying the shawl out for that purpose. “You’ve got to put your hands up like this. It makes you feel kind o’

1. Grew or developed successfully (e.g., a business prospered).
2. Flourished or thrived in wealth, health, or happiness.

until the next summer saw the whole country golden with the wheat crop. Everything prospered in the strange settlement. Above all, the great temple which they had erected in the centre of

1. Built or constructed (a structure or building).
2. Raised upright into position.

Everything prospered in the strange settlement. Above all, the great temple which they had erected in the centre of the city grew ever taller and larger. From the first blush of dawn until the

1. People who accompany or spend time with others.
2. Animals or objects that provide company or support.

persuasion could ever induce him to set up a female establishment after the manner of his companions. He never gave reasons for this persistent refusal, but contented himself by resolutely and

1. A small, hardy wild horse of the North American plains.
2. A free-spirited or independent person.

lithe girlish figure tripping through the wheatfields, or met her mounted upon her father’s mustang, and managing it with all the ease and grace of a true child of the West. So the bud blossomed

1. A young unmarried woman.
2. The first occurrence or attempt of something.

change is too subtle and too gradual to be measured by dates. Least of all does the maiden herself know it until the tone of a voice or the touch of a hand sets her heart thrilling within

1. (verb) Moved or ran quickly like a horse.
2. (verb) Rode a horse at a fast pace.

this motley assemblage, threading her way with the skill of an accomplished rider, there galloped Lucy Ferrier, her fair face flushed with the exercise and her long chestnut hair floating out

1. Intense or aggressive in nature.
2. Violent or forceful in action.

closed in behind her, and she found herself completely imbedded in the moving stream of fierce-eyed, long-horned bullocks. Accustomed as she was to deal with cattle, she was not alarmed at her

1. A piece of equipment used to control a horse, consisting of straps and a bit.
2. To restrain or keep under control.

animals. Unaccustomed to sudden emergencies, her head began to swim, and her grip upon the bridle to relax. Choked by the rising cloud of dust and by the steam from the struggling creatures, she

1. Feeling fear or scared.
2. Afraid or alarmed by something.

through and tried the kitchen door, and then—” John Rance sprang to his feet with a frightened face and suspicion in his eyes. “Where was you hid to see all that?” he cried. “It seems to me

1. Close companions or friends, especially in a shared struggle or activity.
2. Fellow members of a socialist or communist party.

has,” I said. “I ought to be more case-hardened after my Afghan experiences. I saw my own comrades hacked to pieces at Maiwand without losing my nerve.” “I can understand. There is a mystery about

1. Left or went away from a place.
2. Deceased; no longer living.

for his approaching journey. At last, having collected enough to keep life in him, he departed for Europe, and tracked his enemies from city to city, working his way in any menial capacity,

1. To speak very softly using one's breath without vocal cords.
2. A quiet or secretive conversation.

about in fear and trembling, and that even in the heart of the wilderness they dared not whisper the doubts which oppressed them. At first this vague and terrible power was exercised only upon

1. People who harass or oppress others, especially for their beliefs or differences.
2. Those who persistently mistreat or pursue someone with hostility.

and bring down a swift retribution upon them. The victims of persecution had now turned persecutors on their own account, and persecutors of the most terrible description. Not the Inquisition of

1. Unverified information or stories spread by word of mouth.
2. Gossip or hearsay that may not be true.

men, masked, stealthy, and noiseless, who flitted by them in the darkness. These tales and rumours took substance and shape, and were corroborated and re-corroborated, until they resolved

1. Confirmed or supported with evidence or authority.
2. Verified by additional sources or facts.

These tales and rumours took substance and shape, and were corroborated and re-corroborated, until they resolved themselves into a definite name. To this day, in the lonely ranches of the

1. To say hello or welcome someone.
2. To acknowledge someone with words or gestures.

I not—?” “Where are your wives?” asked Young, looking round him. “Call them in, that I may greet them.” “It is true that I have not married,” Ferrier answered. “But women were few, and there

1. Failed to care for properly.
2. Suffered from lack of attention.

to do, and this, if common report says truly, you have neglected.” “And how have I neglected it?” asked Ferrier, throwing out his hands in expostulation. “Have I not given to the common

1. A person who is not Jewish.
2. In Christianity, a non-Jewish person or nation.

Joseph Smith? ‘Let every maiden of the true faith marry one of the elect; for if she wed a Gentile, she commits a grievous sin.’ This being so, it is impossible that you, who profess the holy

1. No (archaic or formal negative response).
2. A negative vote or voter.

and Brother Drebber here has seven, it appears to me that my claim is the stronger one.” “Nay, nay, Brother Stangerson,” cried the other; “the question is not how many wives we have, but how many

1. Taken by force or legal authority.
2. Grasped suddenly and firmly.

able to convince the two castaways that their appearance was no delusion. One of them seized the little girl, and hoisted her upon his shoulder, while two others supported her gaunt

1. A hybrid animal, offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, known for its strength and endurance.
2. A stubborn or obstinate person.

are we to do?” “Tomorrow is your last day, and unless you act tonight you are lost. I have a mule and two horses waiting in the Eagle Ravine. How much money have you?” “Two thousand dollars in

1. A deep, narrow gorge with steep sides, often formed by water erosion.
2. A small valley or gully, typically carved by a stream or river.

The man was dying—dying from hunger and from thirst. He had toiled painfully down the ravine, and on to this little elevation, in the vain hope of seeing some signs of water. Now the great

1. Rough, uneven, or jagged in texture or appearance.
2. Strong, durable, and able to withstand harsh conditions.

when one of the youngest and keenest-eyed uttered an exclamation and pointed up at the rugged crag above them. From its summit there fluttered a little wisp of pink, showing up hard and

1. Large rounded rocks, typically larger than 10 inches in diameter.
2. Naturally occurring rock fragments formed by erosion or weathering.

rugged surface like the ribs of some petrified monster. On the other hand a wild chaos of boulders and debris made all advance impossible. Between the two ran the irregular track, so narrow in

1. Being alone; without companions.
2. Done or existing alone.

imitation white marble. On one corner of this was stuck the stump of a red wax candle. The solitary window was so dirty that the light was hazy and uncertain, giving a dull grey tinge to

1. A guard or watchman stationed to keep watch.
2. A soldier stationed to protect a place.

that that was the highest authority to which he could refer. “Nine from seven,” cried the sentinel. “Seven from five,” returned Jefferson Hope promptly, remembering the countersign which he had

1. To make something dirty or impure.
2. To desecrate or violate something sacred.

V The Avenging Angels All night their course lay through intricate defiles and over irregular and rock-strewn paths. More than once they lost their way, but Hope’s intimate

1. Scattered or spread untidily over a surface or area.
2. Covered or littered with objects spread out randomly.

down upon them. Nor was the fear entirely an illusion, for the barren valley was thickly strewn with trees and boulders which had fallen in a similar manner. Even as they passed, a great rock

1. People who are fleeing from danger, persecution, or the law.
2. Individuals escaping custody or avoiding arrest.

from city to city, working his way in any menial capacity, but never overtaking the fugitives. When he reached St. Petersburg they had departed for Paris; and when he followed them there he

1. A strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid.
2. A large volume of something arriving suddenly and forcefully.

one from the other. He followed one for a mile or more until he came to a mountain torrent which he was sure that he had never seen before. Convinced that he had taken the wrong turn, he

1. Burning fiercely or brightly.
2. Extremely fast or intense.

throw in his way. Looking back he saw the old man and the young girl crouching over the blazing fire, while the three animals stood motionless in the background. Then the intervening rocks hid

1. The reflexive form of "we," referring to the speaker and others.
2. Used for emphasis to indicate "we" and no one else.

clue?” “Ah, I’ll tell you all about it. Of course, Doctor Watson, this is strictly between ourselves. The first difficulty which we had to contend with was the finding of this American’s

1. Uncommon in occurrence or experience.

of a few of them:— The Daily Telegraph remarked that in the history of crime there had seldom been a tragedy which presented stranger features. The German name of the victim, the absence of

1. Abnormal bulging in a blood vessel wall.
2. A localized, balloon-like swelling in an artery.

fairly inside my cab, my heart jumped so with joy that I feared lest at this last moment my aneurism might go wrong. I drove along slowly, weighing in my own mind what it was best to do. I might

1. Walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
2. Arrange events or payments so they occur at different times.

spring up in them, and convulse his whole features, which showed me that he knew me. He staggered back with a livid face, and I saw the perspiration break out upon his brow, while his teeth

1. Naturally occurring chemical compound containing basic nitrogen atoms.
2. Often derived from plants and known for pharmacological effects.

I could imagine his giving a friend a little pinch of the latest vegetable alkaloid, not out of malevolence, you understand, but simply out of a spirit of inquiry in order to have

1. Judicial officers who handle minor legal cases and preliminary hearings.
2. Civil officers administering the law in a local court.

VII The Conclusion We had all been warned to appear before the magistrates upon the Thursday; but when the Thursday came there was no occasion for our testimony. A higher

1. A court or forum where legal cases are heard and judged.
2. An official body established to settle disputes or investigate issues.

Was it some midnight assassin who had come to carry out the murderous orders of the secret tribunal? Or was it some agent who was marking up that the last day of grace had arrived. John Ferrier

1. To distribute or allot something, often in measured amounts.
2. To administer or dispense justice, punishment, or rewards.

in hand, and Jefferson Hope had been summoned before a tribunal where strict justice would be meted out to him. On the very night after his capture the aneurism burst, and he was found in the

1. The effect or influence something has on someone's thoughts or feelings.
2. A mark or indentation made by pressure.

path, which happened to be composed of a clay soil, peculiarly suitable for taking impressions. No doubt it appeared to you to be a mere trampled line of slush, but to my trained eyes every

1. A written or spoken statement praising someone or something.
2. A formal declaration of character or qualifications.

may hope in time to attain to some degree of their skill. It is expected that a testimonial of some sort will be presented to the two officers as a fitting recognition of their services.”