A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle- page 10

It was close upon four before the door opened, and a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room.

• It: refers to the time or situation [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be', indicating a state of being in the past [wɑz]
• close upon: nearly; almost [kloʊz əˈpɑn]
• four: referring to four o'clock [fɔr]
• before: preposition indicating time; earlier than [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• the door: a hinged barrier used to close and open an entrance to a room or building [ðə dɔr]
• opened: past tense of 'open', meaning to allow access or passage [ˈoʊpənd]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• a drunken-looking groom: a male servant who takes care of horses, appearing intoxicated [ə drunken-looking grum]
• ill-kempt: having an untidy or disheveled appearance [ill-kempt]
• and: conjunction connecting 'ill-kempt' and 'side-whiskered' [ənd]
• side-whiskered: having hair growing on the sides of the face, especially below the ears [side-whiskered]
• with: preposition indicating accompaniment or possession [wɪθ]
• an inflamed face: a face that is red, swollen, and painful [ən ɪnˈfleɪmd feɪs]
• and: conjunction connecting 'inflamed face' and 'disreputable clothes' [ənd]
• disreputable clothes: clothes that are not respectable or in good condition [dɪsˈrɛpjətəbəl kloʊðz]
• walked: past tense of 'walk', meaning to move on foot [wɔkt]
• into: preposition indicating movement to or towards the inside of a place [ˈɪntu]
• the room: a space enclosed by walls, a floor, and a ceiling [ðə rum]

Accustomed as I was to my friend’s amazing powers in the use of disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it was indeed he.

• Accustomed: used to; familiar with [əˈkəstəmd]
• as: in the manner or role of [ɛz]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• to: preposition indicating direction or relationship [tɪ]
• my friend’s: belonging to my friend [maɪ frɛndz]
• amazing powers: remarkable abilities [əˈmeɪzɪŋ paʊərz]
• in: preposition indicating location or means [ɪn]
• the use of: the act of employing something [ðə juz əv]
• disguises: things used to change one's appearance [dɪsˈgaɪzɪz]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• had to: was obliged to; necessary to [hæd tɪ]
• look: to direct one's gaze [lʊk]
• three times: on three separate occasions [θri taɪmz]
• before: preposition indicating time; earlier than [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• certain: sure; confident [ˈsərtən]
• that: conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• it: pronoun referring to the person disguised as the groom [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• indeed: in truth; certainly [ˌɪnˈdid]
• he: third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]

With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old.

• With: preposition indicating accompaniment [wɪθ]
• a nod: a quick downward movement of the head as a greeting or signal [ə nɑd]
• he: third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]
• vanished: past tense of 'vanish', meaning to disappear suddenly [ˈvænɪʃt]
• into: preposition indicating movement to or towards the inside of a place [ˈɪntu]
• the bedroom: a room used for sleeping [ðə ˈbɛˌdrum]
• whence: from where; from which place [wɛns]
• he: third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]
• emerged: past tense of 'emerge', meaning to come out or appear [ˈimərʤd]
• in: preposition indicating time [ɪn]
• five minutes: a period of five minutes [faɪv ˈmɪnəts]
• tweed-suited: wearing a suit made of tweed fabric [tweed-suited]
• and: conjunction connecting 'tweed-suited' and 'respectable' [ənd]
• respectable: regarded as socially acceptable or worthy of respect [rɪˈspɛktəbəl]
• as: in the same way that; like [ɛz]
• of old: as he used to be; in his former state [əv oʊld]

Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes.

• Putting: placing; positioning [ˈpʊtɪŋ]
• his hands: the friend's hands [hɪz hænz]
• into: preposition indicating movement to or towards the inside of a place [ˈɪntu]
• his pockets: the pockets of his clothing [hɪz ˈpɑkəts]
• he: third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]
• stretched out: extended; straightened [strɛʧt aʊt]
• his legs: the friend's legs [hɪz lɛgz]
• in front of: in the position directly before something [ɪn frənt əv]
• the fire: a controlled burning of fuel to provide heat or light [ðə faɪər]
• and: conjunction connecting 'stretched out his legs' and 'laughed heartily' [ənd]
• laughed heartily: laughed in a loud and cheerful way [læft ˈhɑrtəli]
• for: preposition indicating duration [fər]
• some minutes: a period of several minutes [səm ˈmɪnəts]

“Well, really!” he cried, and then he choked and laughed again until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the chair.

• Well: An expression of surprise, mild annoyance, or resignation. [wɛl]
• really: Expresses disbelief, surprise, or indignation. [ˈrɪli]
• he cried: He exclaimed or shouted. 'Cried' in this context means to speak loudly or emphatically. [hi kraɪd]
• and then: Indicates a sequence of events. [ənd ðɛn]
• he choked: He had difficulty breathing, possibly due to emotion or laughter. [hi ʧoʊkt]
• and laughed again: He continued laughing. [ənd læft əˈgɛn]
• until he was obliged: To the point where he was forced or compelled. [ənˈtɪl hi wɑz əˈblaɪʤd]
• to lie back: To recline or lean backwards. [tɪ laɪ bæk]
• limp and helpless: Without strength or ability to assist oneself. [lɪmp ənd ˈhɛlpləs]
• in the chair: Sitting in the chair. [ɪn ðə ʧɛr]

“What is it?”

• What is it: A question asking for clarification or explanation of something. [wət ɪz ɪt]

“It’s quite too funny.

• It’s: Contraction of 'it is'. [ɪts]
• quite too funny: Extremely amusing. [kwaɪt tu ˈfəni]

“I can’t imagine.

• I can’t imagine: I am unable to guess or conceive. [aɪ kænt ˌɪˈmæʤən]

“Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual.

• Quite so: Exactly; that is correct. [kwaɪt soʊ]
• but the sequel: But the subsequent events or outcome. [bət ðə ˈsikwəl]
• was rather unusual: Was somewhat strange or uncommon. [wɑz ˈrəðər ənˈjuˌʒuəl]

I will tell you, however.

• I will tell you, however: I will explain it to you, nevertheless. [aɪ wɪl tɛl ju ˌhaʊˈɛvər]

I left the house a little after eight o’clock this morning in the character of a groom out of work.

• I left the house: I departed from the building. [aɪ lɛft ðə haʊs]
• a little after eight o’clock: Shortly after 8:00 AM. [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈæftər eɪt əˈklɑk]
• this morning: On this day, in the morning. [ðɪs ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• in the character of: Disguised as or acting as. [ɪn ðə ˈkɛrɪktər əv]
• a groom: A person employed to take care of horses. [ə grum]
• out of work: Unemployed. [aʊt əv wərk]

There is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men.

• There is: Indicates existence. [ðɛr ɪz]
• a wonderful sympathy: A remarkable understanding and rapport. [ə ˈwəndərfəl ˈsɪmpəθi]
• and freemasonry: And a sense of brotherhood or secret understanding. [ənd ˈfriˈmeɪsənri]
• among horsey men: Among men who work with or are interested in horses. [əˈməŋ ˈhɔrsi mɛn]

Be one of them, and you will know all that there is to know.

• Be one of them: If you become one of them. [bi wən əv ðɛm]
• and you will know: Then you will understand. [ənd ju wɪl noʊ]
• all that there is to know: Everything that is important to know. [ɔl ðət ðɛr ɪz tɪ noʊ]

I soon found Briony Lodge.

• I soon found: I quickly located. [aɪ sun faʊnd]
• Briony Lodge: The name of a place. [ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]

It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but built out in front right up to the road, two stories.

• It is: It is. [ɪt ɪz]
• a bijou villa: A small, elegant villa. [ə bijou ˈvɪlə]
• with a garden: Having a garden. [wɪθ ə ˈgɑrdən]
• at the back: In the rear. [æt ðə bæk]
• but built out: Extended outwards. [bət bɪlt aʊt]
• in front: At the front. [ɪn frənt]
• right up to the road: Directly adjacent to the road. [raɪt əp tɪ ðə roʊd]
• two stories: Two floors. [tu ˈstɔriz]

Chubb lock to the door.

• Chubb lock: A type of secure lock. [ʧəb lɑk]
• to the door: On the door. [tɪ ðə dɔr]

Large sitting-room on the right side, well furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open.

• Large sitting-room: A spacious living room. [lɑrʤ sitting-room]
• on the right side: Located on the right-hand side. [ɔn ðə raɪt saɪd]
• well furnished: Nicely equipped with furniture. [wɛl ˈfərnɪʃt]
• with long windows: Having tall windows. [wɪθ lɔŋ ˈwɪndoʊz]
• almost to the floor: Extending nearly to the ground. [ˈɔlˌmoʊst tɪ ðə flɔr]
• and those preposterous: And those ridiculous or absurd. [ənd ðoʊz prɪˈpɑstərəs]
• English window fasteners: Mechanisms for securing windows. [ˈɪŋlɪʃ ˈwɪndoʊ ˈfæsənərz]
• which a child could open: That are easily opened, even by a child. [wɪʧ ə ʧaɪld kʊd ˈoʊpən]

Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window could be reached from the top of the coach-house.

• Behind there: At the rear of the building. [bɪˈhaɪnd ðɛr]
• was nothing remarkable: Was nothing noteworthy. [wɑz ˈnəθɪŋ rɪˈmɑrkəbəl]
• save that: Except that. [seɪv ðət]
• the passage window: The window in the hallway. [ðə ˈpæsɪʤ ˈwɪndoʊ]
• could be reached: Could be accessed. [kʊd bi riʧt]
• from the top: From the upper part. [frəm ðə tɔp]
• of the coach-house: A building for storing carriages. [əv ðə coach-house]

I walked round it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without noting anything else of interest.

• I walked round it: I circled around it. [aɪ wɔkt raʊnd ɪt]
• and examined it closely: And inspected it carefully. [ənd ɪgˈzæmənd ɪt ˈkloʊsli]
• from every point of view: From all angles. [frəm ˈɛvəri pɔɪnt əv vju]
• but without noting: But without observing. [bət wɪˈθaʊt ˈnoʊtɪŋ]
• anything else: Anything further. [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ ɛls]
• of interest: That was interesting. [əv ˈɪntəˌrɛst]

“I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the garden.

• I: The speaker, referring to himself/herself [aɪ]
• then: at that time; next in order of time [ðɛn]
• lounged down: moved in a relaxed or lazy way [lounged daʊn]
• the street: a public road in a city or town [ðə strit]
• and found, as I expected: and discovered, as anticipated [ənd faʊnd ɛz aɪ ɪkˈspɛktɪd]
• that there was: indicating the existence of something [ðət ðɛr wɑz]
• a mews: a street or courtyard formerly occupied by stables, often converted into dwellings or workshops [ə mews]
• in a lane: located in a narrow road or path [ɪn ə leɪn]
• which runs down: that extends or leads downward [wɪʧ rənz daʊn]
• by one wall: alongside a single side of an enclosure [baɪ wən wɔl]
• of the garden: belonging to the garden, a piece of land used for growing plants [əv ðə ˈgɑrdən]