A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle- page 3

He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands together.

• He: refers to a male person previously mentioned or known [hi]
• chuckled: a soft, partly suppressed laugh [ˈʧəkəld]
• to himself: done or said to or by oneself [tɪ hɪmˈsɛlf]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• rubbed: to apply pressure and friction to a surface [rəbd]
• his: belonging to or associated with the male person previously mentioned [hɪz]
• long: of considerable length [lɔŋ]
• nervous: anxious or apprehensive [ˈnərvəs]
• hands: the terminal part of the human arm beyond the wrist, including the palm and fingers [hænz]
• together: in or into one place or group [təˈgɛðər]

“It is simplicity itself,” said he; “my eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts.

• It is simplicity itself: an emphatic way of saying something is very simple [ɪt ɪz sɪmˈplɪsɪti ˌɪtˈsɛlf]
• said: past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]
• he: the male person previously mentioned [hi]
• my: belonging to me [maɪ]
• eyes: organs of sight [aɪz]
• tell: to communicate information to someone [tɛl]
• me: used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself as the object of a verb or preposition [mi]
• that: introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• on: physically supported by something [ɔn]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific thing [ðə]
• inside: the inner part or surface of something [ˌɪnˈsaɪd]
• of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• your: belonging to or associated with the person addressed [jʊr]
• left: on the west side of a person or thing facing north [lɛft]
• shoe: an outer covering for the foot, typically made of leather or plastic [ʃu]
• just: exactly [ʤɪst]
• where: at or in which place or position [wɛr]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific thing [ðə]
• firelight: light from a fire [firelight]
• strikes: to hit or impinge on something forcefully [straɪks]
• it: referring to the shoe [ɪt]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific thing [ðə]
• leather: material made from the skin of an animal by tanning or a similar process [ˈlɛðər]
• is scored: is marked with lines or scratches [ɪz skɔrd]
• by: indicating the agent performing an action [baɪ]
• six: the number 6 [sɪks]
• almost: nearly [ˈɔlˌmoʊst]
• parallel: side by side and having the same distance continuously between them [ˈpɛrəˌlɛl]
• cuts: an opening, incision, or wound made with a sharp-edged tool or object [kəts]

Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it.

• Obviously: in a way that is easily perceived or understood; clearly [ˈɑbviəsli]
• they: referring to the cuts [ðeɪ]
• have been caused: the reason or explanation for something [hæv bɪn kɔzd]
• by: indicating the agent performing an action [baɪ]
• someone: an unknown or unspecified person [ˈsəmˌwən]
• who: used to introduce a clause giving further information about a person or people previously mentioned [hu]
• has: third person singular present of 'have' [həz]
• very: in a high degree [ˈvɛri]
• carelessly: in a casual or reckless way; without sufficient attention [ˈkɛrlɛsli]
• scraped: to clean or smooth (a surface) by rubbing it with something coarse [skreɪpt]
• round: surrounding [raʊnd]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific thing [ðə]
• edges: the outside limit of an object, area, or surface [ˈɛʤɪz]
• of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific thing [ðə]
• sole: the underside of a foot or shoe [soʊl]
• in order to: for the purpose of [ɪn ˈɔrdər tɪ]
• remove: take (something) away or off from the position occupied [riˈmuv]
• crusted: covered with a hard layer or deposit [ˈkrəstɪd]
• mud: soft, sticky matter resulting from the mixing of earth and water [məd]
• from: indicating a starting point [frəm]
• it: referring to the sole [ɪt]

Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting specimen of the London slavey.

• Hence: as a consequence; for this reason [hɛns]
• you: the person or people that the speaker is addressing [ju]
• see: perceive with the eyes; discern visually [si]
• my: belonging to me [maɪ]
• double: twice as much or as many [ˈdəbəl]
• deduction: the action of deducting or subtracting something [dɪˈdəkʃən]
• that: introducing a clause expressing the content of a statement [ðət]
• you: the person or people that the speaker is addressing [ju]
• had been: past perfect tense of 'be' [hæd bɪn]
• out: away from a place or position [aʊt]
• in: expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]
• vile: extremely unpleasant [vaɪl]
• weather: the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc. [ˈwɛðər]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• that: introducing a clause expressing the content of a statement [ðət]
• you: the person or people that the speaker is addressing [ju]
• had: past tense of 'have' [hæd]
• a: used to refer to someone or something when mentioning them for the first time [ə]
• particularly: to a greater degree than is normal or usual [ˌpɑrˈtɪkjələrli]
• malignant: malevolent [məˈlɪgnənt]
• boot-slitting: sarcastic term for someone who damages boots [boot-slitting]
• specimen: an individual animal, plant, piece of a mineral, etc. used as an example of its species or type for scientific study or display [ˈspɛsəmən]
• of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific thing [ðə]
• London: relating to London [ˈləndən]
• slavey: dated term for a young female domestic servant [slavey]

I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction. “When I hear you give your reasons,” I remarked, “the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process.

• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• could not help: was unable to avoid [kʊd nɑt hɛlp]
• laughing: making sounds and facial expressions showing amusement [ˈlæfɪŋ]
• at: expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position [æt]
• the ease: the state of being without difficulty or effort [ðə iz]
• with which: by means of which; how [wɪθ wɪʧ]
• he: the person being referred to [hi]
• explained: made clear or understandable [ɪkˈspleɪnd]
• his process: the method or series of actions used by him [hɪz ˈprɔˌsɛs]
• of deduction: the act of reasoning from general principles to a particular conclusion [əv dɪˈdəkʃən]
• When: at the time or occasion that [wɪn]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• hear: perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something [hir]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• give: provide or present [gɪv]
• your reasons: the explanations or justifications for your actions or beliefs [jʊr ˈrizənz]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• remarked: said something as a comment [rɪˈmɑrkt]
• the thing: the matter or situation being discussed [ðə θɪŋ]
• always: at all times; on every occasion [ˈɔlˌweɪz]
• appears: gives the impression of being [əˈpɪrz]
• to me: in my opinion or perception [tɪ mi]
• to be: linking verb indicating a state or condition [tɪ bi]
• so: to such a great extent [soʊ]
• ridiculously simple: extremely easy or uncomplicated [rəˈdɪkjələsli ˈsɪmpəl]
• that: introducing a result or consequence [ðət]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• could easily: would be able to do without difficulty [kʊd ˈizəli]
• do it: perform the action [du ɪt]
• myself: by my own efforts [ˌmaɪˈsɛlf]
• though: despite the fact that [ðoʊ]
• at each successive instance: on every following occasion [æt iʧ səkˈsɛsɪv ˈɪnstəns]
• of your reasoning: of your thought process [əv jʊr ˈrizənɪŋ]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• am baffled: am confused or perplexed [æm ˈbæfəld]
• until: up to the point in time that [ənˈtɪl]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• explain: make clear or understandable [ɪkˈspleɪn]
• your process: the method or series of actions used by you [jʊr ˈprɔˌsɛs]

“Quite so,” he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing himself down into an armchair. “You see, but you do not observe.

• Quite so: Exactly; indeed [kwaɪt soʊ]
• he: the person being referred to [hi]
• answered: responded verbally [ˈænsərd]
• lighting: igniting or setting fire to [ˈlaɪtɪŋ]
• a cigarette: a thin cylinder of tobacco rolled in paper for smoking [ə ˌsɪgəˈrɛt]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• throwing himself down: reclining or sitting in a relaxed manner [θroʊɪŋ hɪmˈsɛlf daʊn]
• into: expressing movement or direction into something [ˈɪntu]
• an armchair: a comfortable chair with side supports for the arms [ən ˈɑrmˌʧɛr]
• You: the person being addressed [ju]
• see: perceive with the eyes [si]
• but: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• do not observe: fail to notice or pay attention to details [du nɑt əbˈzərv]

The distinction is clear.

• The distinction: the difference or contrast between similar things or people [ðə dɪˈstɪŋkʃən]
• is clear: is easily understood [ɪz klɪr]

“Frequently.”

• Frequently: Used to indicate that something occurs often or at short intervals. [ˈfrikwɛntli]

“How often?”

• How often: A question asking about the frequency with which something occurs. [haʊ ˈɔfən]

“Well, some hundreds of times.”

• Well: An introductory word, often used to express mild surprise, hesitation, or to begin a response. [wɛl]
• some hundreds of times: An indefinite but large number of times, approximately several hundred. [səm ˈhənərdz əv taɪmz]

“Then how many are there?”

• Then: Indicates a logical consequence or inference. [ðɛn]
• how many are there: A question asking about the total quantity or number of something. [haʊ ˈmɛni ər ðɛr]

“How many?

• How many: Repeating the question to show surprise or to gain clarification. [haʊ ˈmɛni]

“Quite so!

• Quite so: An expression of agreement or confirmation. [kwaɪt soʊ]

You have not observed.

• You have not observed: You have not paid careful attention or noticed details. [ju hæv nɑt əbˈzərvd]

And yet you have seen.

• And yet: Despite what has just been said; nevertheless. [ənd jɛt]
• you have seen: You have visually perceived something. [ju hæv sin]

That is just my point.

• That is just my point: That is exactly what I am trying to emphasize. [ðət ɪz ʤɪst maɪ pɔɪnt]

Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed.

• Now: Used to introduce a new topic or aspect of the discussion. [naʊ]
• I know: I have certainty or knowledge. [aɪ noʊ]
• that there are seventeen steps: Specifies the exact number of steps. [ðət ðɛr ər ˈsɛvənˈtin stɛps]
• because: Explains the reason or cause. [bɪˈkəz]
• I have both seen and observed: I have both visually perceived and carefully examined. [aɪ hæv boʊθ sin ənd əbˈzərvd]