The blue scarab: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words R. Austin Freeman uses again and again in The blue scarab that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/51× in the book
“I am sorry to hear you say that, Jervis,” he exclaimed, “because I was proposing to hand the letter over to you to examine and report on.”
footprint/ˈfʊtˌpɹɪnt/42× in the book
From the window we turned to examine more closely the footprints on the floor, and, while I took a series of measurements with my spring tape, Foxton entered them in my notebook.
rick/ˈɹɪk/36× in the book
About two o’clock this morning, a rural constable observed a rick on fire out on the marshes near the creek.
robbery/ˈɹɑbɝi/35× in the book
It is really a matter of a robbery, but not quite an ordinary robbery.
coroner/ˈkɔɹənɝ/30× in the book
I’ll just run in and give them the facts and then go on to the coroner’s office.”
probability/ˌpɹɑbəˈbɪɫəˌti/30× in the book
“As a matter of probability, yes.
scarab29× in the book
There were a number of share certificates, a lease, one or two agreements, some family photographs and a small box containing an old letter and a scarab.
inch/ˈɪntʃ/29× in the book
It was about an inch and a half long.
barge/ˈbɑɹdʒ/27× in the book
“And what about the barge?”
evidently/ˈɛvədəntɫi/26× in the book
Our approach up the drive had evidently been observed, for Blowgrave and his daughter were waiting at the porch to receive us.
seal/ˈsiɫ/26× in the book
He took from his pocket-book and handed to Thorndyke an ordinary envelope addressed in typewritten characters, and sealed with a large, elliptical seal, the face of which was covered with minute hieroglyphics.
plaster/ˈpɫæstɝ/25× in the book
“These,” said Thorndyke, exhibiting the “models” to Superintendent Miller—who viewed them with an undisguised grin—“are plaster casts of the interiors of a pair of slippers—very old and much too tight—belonging to Mr. Macauley.
bolt/ˈboʊɫt/24× in the book
As she couldn’t get any answer, she tried the door and found it bolted on the inside, and then she came and told me.
frost/ˈfɹɔst/22× in the book
… ergotism, and frost-bite.”
poison/ˈpɔɪzən/22× in the book
There is such a thing as homicidal poisoning, you know.”
morrow/ˈmɑɹoʊ/20× in the book
I will ask you to leave both these letters for me to examine more minutely, and I shall probably want to make an inspection of the premises—perhaps to-morrow.”
superintendent/ˌsupɝənˈtɛndənt/20× in the book
Foxton’s sudden reticence restrained me from uttering the obvious comment on the superintendent’s achievement.
constable/ˈkɑnstəbəɫ/19× in the book
… a thunderous crash and an ear-splitting yell, and the formidable barbarian lay prostrate on the floor with one massive constable sitting astride his chest and the other seated on his knees.
inquire/ˌɪnˈkwaɪɹ/19× in the book
inquired Polton, who was always agog at the word “investigation.”
wallet/ˈwɔɫət/19× in the book
Mr. Harewood folded up the will and put it in a leather wallet which he slipped into his pocket, stating his intention of taking the will forthwith to deposit with his lawyer at Welsbury.
inquest/ˈɪnˌkwɛst/18× in the book
… and even if she is, as you will have to give evidence at the inquest, you don’t want the police to get there first and turn out the room before you’ve made your inspection.”
probable/ˈpɹɑbəbəɫ/18× in the book
… and the luck was with Reuben, though it seems probable that he gave luck some assistance.
halt/ˈhɔɫt/18× in the book
… until he reached a heap of freshly-turned earth, where he halted and pointed tragically to a spot where the turf had evidently been raised and untidily replaced.
bullion/ˈbʊɫjən/17× in the book
“With reference to this bullion,” said Thorndyke, “I understand that you weighed the bars separately from the case?”
inspect/ˌɪnˈspɛkt/17× in the book
The former he read through and then inspected the paper closely, holding it up to the light to observe the watermark.
ruby/ˈɹubi/16× in the book
They were all cut stones, and most of them of exceptional size; rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and a few diamonds.
deceased/dɪˈsist/16× in the book
He further stated that he had been present at the autopsy, that he had found on the throat and limbs of the deceased, bruises that suggested a struggle and violent restraint.
jewel/ˈdʒuəɫ/16× in the book
… and that in the course of their last cruise, they acquired a very remarkable and valuable collection of jewels.
skull/ˈskəɫ/16× in the book
And now, as Thorndyke picked away the earth around the head, we could see that the skull was propped forward as if it rested on a high pillow.
protector/pɹəˈtɛktɝ/15× in the book
While the plaster and composition were setting Thorndyke renewed his inspection of the salvage from the rick, picking out a number of iron boot protectors which he placed apart in a little heap.
presently/ˈpɹɛzəntɫi/15× in the book
Six thirsty eyes were riveted on that basket until it drew near and presently disgorged a great glass jug and four tumblers, when we each took off a long and delicious draught and then jumped down into the pit to resume our labours.
yacht/ˈjɑt/14× in the book
We all scrambled up on deck; the boat was dropped astern at the scope of her painter; the engine-room bell jangled merrily, and the smart, yacht-like vessel began to forge ahead.
eagerly/ˈiɡɝɫi/14× in the book
Blowgrave assented eagerly and went off at a brisk trot, while the young lady remained with us and watched Thorndyke with intense curiosity.
dental/ˈdɛnəɫ/14× in the book
… a nailbrush, dental-brush, button-hook …
specimen/ˈspɛsəmən/14× in the book
This completed my examination, and when I had verified the make of typewriter by reference to our album of specimens of typewriting, I left the negatives for Polton to dry and print and went down to the sitting-room to draw up my little report.
grin/ˈɡɹɪn/14× in the book
“It is magnificent,” I replied, with a grin.
faint/ˈfeɪnt/14× in the book
“He doesn’t give the faintest clue.
mysterious/mɪˈstɪɹiəs/14× in the book
There are some unusual and rather mysterious features in the case.
mile/ˈmaɪɫ/13× in the book
… and I came round to inspect it, when I found it to be a sheet of the Ordnance map on the scale of twenty-five inches to the mile.
robber/ˈɹɑbɝ/13× in the book
But I want the robber traced and punished, and I want to get the scarab back.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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