44 words to know before reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

1. A historical region in central Europe, now part of the Czech Republic.
2. A lifestyle or culture characterized by unconventional, artistic, or free-spirited behavior.

and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette. “The paper was made in Bohemia,” I said. “Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar

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 To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes

1. A person, often an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional, free-spirited lifestyle.
2. Relating to a socially unconventional or artistic way of living.

It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to

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

at his gigantic client. “If your Majesty would condescend to state your case,” he remarked, “I should be better able to advise you.” The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the

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

“Bought.” “We were both in the photograph.” “Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion.” “I was mad—insane.” “You have compromised yourself seriously.” “I

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

and came home in a dreadful mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can’t imagine how you deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has given her notice, but there, again, I

1. A climbing plant with heart-shaped leaves and small greenish-white flowers.
2. A female given name of English origin.

among horsey men. Be one of them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but built out in front right up to the

1. A small house or cabin, often in a rural or natural setting.
2. A local branch of a society or organization.

action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her.” “And what then?” “You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to

1. A four-wheeled carriage with a folding top divided into two sections.
2. A type of horse-drawn vehicle popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.

I was just balancing whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped

1. A male member of the clergy, such as a priest, minister, or pastor.
2. An ordained religious leader in a Christian church.

just now. It seems that there had been some informality about their license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance

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

I To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his

1. A closed horse-drawn carriage with four wheels, named after Lord Brougham.
2. A type of luxury automobile body style, resembling the carriage.

by the sound,” said he. “Yes,” he continued, glancing out of the window. “A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There’s money in this case, Watson,

1. Returned to a previous state, especially of illness or bad behavior.
2. Slipped back into old habits or conditions after improvement.

yet—! Well! I wish she had been of my own station! What a queen she would have made!” He relapsed into a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in Serpentine Avenue. The door of

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

repaid by having had an experience which is in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the Redheaded League.” “You see, Watson,” he explained in the early hours of the

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

Majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion.” “I was mad—insane.” “You have compromised yourself seriously.” “I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now.” “It must be

1. Colored slightly or lightly (e.g., tinted glasses).
2. Having a small amount of color added.

black hair, a little bald in the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, in black frock-coat faced with

1. Written using a typewriter.
2. Produced in printed characters resembling those from a typewriter.

strike you.” “They are typewritten,” I remarked. “Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the neat little ‘Hosmer Angel’ at the bottom. There is a date, you see, but no

1. A loose outer garment without sleeves, worn over other clothing.
2. Something that hides or covers, like a disguise or concealment.

were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck

1. A boy or young man (informal).
2. A lively or mischievous young man.

This fellow is madly, insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away five years at a boarding-school, what does

1. A court or session held periodically in English counties for administering civil and criminal justice.
2. The verdict or decisions made during such a court session.

needed.” “It’s as well,” said the old man; “it’s a question whether I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the

1. Small seeds found in fruits like apples or oranges.
2. Short, high-pitched sounds, often from electronic devices.

The Five Orange Pips When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years ’82 and

1. Being the only one of its kind; unique.
2. (Grammar) Referring to a form representing one person or thing.

keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and astuteness

1. A flat paper container for a letter or document.
2. The outer covering of a virus or cell.

start, that upon the lid was printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the envelope. “ ‘I wish you, John,’ said my uncle, ‘to witness my will. I leave my estate, with all its

1. A grassy plain with few trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions.
2. A city in Georgia, USA, known for its historic architecture and coastal charm.

for J. O.” Then he sealed it and addressed it to “Captain James Calhoun, Barque Lone Star, Savannah, Georgia.” “That will await him when he enters port,” said he, chuckling. “It may give him a

1. A narcotic drug derived from the poppy plant, used for pain relief and recreation.
2. A substance that induces sleep or dulls awareness.

Whitney, D.D., Principal of the Theological College of St. George’s, was much addicted to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish freak when he was at college; for

1. A small valley or hollow, often wooded and secluded.
2. A shelter or hiding place, especially for wild animals.

by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the

1. A sailor or seaman from South Asia, especially India, employed on European ships.
2. A type of volcanic mudflow or debris flow.

worth an hour’s purchase; for I have used it before now for my own purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have vengeance upon me. There is a trapdoor at the back of that

1. A painful cluster of boils on the skin caused by infection.
2. A deep-red gemstone, especially a garnet cut in a rounded shape.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas, with the

1. A large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, and webbed feet.
2. The flesh of a goose used as food.

property to any one of them.” “What, then, did Peterson do?” “He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. The

1. The ability to predict or plan for the future.
2. Careful consideration of what might happen later.

towards it. I seem to be in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no precautions can guard against.” “Tut! tut!” cried Sherlock Holmes. “You must act, man, or

1. To add fuel to a fire to keep it burning.
2. To encourage or intensify a feeling or situation.

who is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey.” Holmes nodded his head. “The name is familiar to me,”

1. Traditionally nomadic people of Indo-Aryan origin, also known as Roma or Romani.
2. (Informal) People who live an unconventional or wandering lifestyle.

I was able to avert another public exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few acres of bramble-covered land

1. A large, fast-running wild cat native to Africa and parts of Iran.
2. Known for its spotted coat and being the fastest land animal.

in at night?” “Always.” “And why?” “I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were locked.” “Quite so. Pray

1. Spoken very softly using one's breath without vocal cords.
2. Communicated in a quiet, secretive, or confidential manner.

small like himself, with a pale face and a shock of very red hair. “It’s all clear,” he whispered. “Have you the chisel and the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I’ll swing for it!”

1. A small square of cloth used for wiping the nose or face.
2. A decorative piece of fabric carried as an accessory.

a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than

1. Relating to the movement of liquids, especially water or oil, under pressure.
2. Operated by the force of fluid in motion.

We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts came

1. A man who is about to be married or has recently been married.
2. The male partner in a wedding ceremony.

to marry them without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign,

1. A female domestic servant who cleans and maintains a household.
2. A young unmarried woman (archaic or poetic).

The Boscombe Valley Mystery We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran in this way: “Have you a couple of

1. A small crown worn by nobles or peers.
2. A decorative band or wreath for the head.

The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet “Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a

1. A mineral composed of beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate, often used as a gemstone.
2. Transparent or translucent varieties, such as emerald or aquamarine, valued in jewelry.

lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which he had named. ‘There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,’ said he, ‘and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The lowest estimate would put the

1. An office or organization for specific tasks.
2. A chest of drawers for storing clothes.

had finally been called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco casket in which, as it afterwards transpired,

1. Deciduous trees of the genus Fagus, known for smooth bark and edible nuts.
2. The wood from beech trees, used in furniture and flooring.

The Adventure of the Copper Beeches “To the man who loves art for its own sake,” remarked Sherlock Holmes, tossing aside the

1. A city in southern England, known for its cathedral and historic significance.
2. A type of repeating rifle or shotgun, named after Oliver Winchester.

concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall meet you with the dogcart at Winchester. Let me know your train. “ ‘Yours faithfully, “ ‘Jephro Rucastle.’ “That is the letter which I

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

It is very unlike his usual writing, and yet I know it well.” “ ‘Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Wait in