The murder of Roger Ackroyd: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Agatha Christie uses again and again in The murder of Roger Ackroyd 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.
murmur/ˈmɝmɝ/35× in the book
When she paused for breath, I murmured something about a patient, and slipped out.
dagger/ˈdæɡɝ/29× in the book
He wiped his moist brow with his handkerchief, then stretched out a hand gingerly towards the hilt of the dagger.
murderer/ˈmɝdɝɝ/29× in the book
And everything points to the murderer having got clear away—for the moment, that is.
dictaphone/ˈdɪktəˌfoʊn/25× in the book
“Mr. Ackroyd had some idea of purchasing a dictaphone,” he explained.
housekeeper/ˈhaʊˌskipɝ/23× in the book
All the time that Ralph Paton was growing up to manhood, a series of lady housekeepers presided over Ackroyd’s establishment, and each in turn was regarded with lively suspicion by Caroline and her cronies.
terrace/ˈtɛɹəs/22× in the book
… namely, that the windows were long French ones opening on the terrace.
blackmail/ˈbɫækˌmeɪɫ/21× in the book
It seems that there is one person who has known all along—who has been blackmailing her for huge sums.
mademoiselle/ˌmædəməˈzɛɫ/20× in the book
I offer mademoiselle all my sympathy.
disturb/dɪˈstɝb/20× in the book
“Once we’ve had coffee, we shan’t be disturbed again,” he explained.
butler/ˈbətɫɝ/19× in the book
The door was opened with admirable promptitude by Parker, the butler.
poison/ˈpɔɪzən/19× in the book
Mrs. Ferrars’ husband died just over a year ago, and Caroline has constantly asserted, without the least foundation for the assertion, that his wife poisoned him.
conceal/kənˈsiɫ/19× in the book
“Looked as though he wanted to conceal his face.
colonel/ˈkɝnəɫ/18× in the book
“I’ve heard of some very remarkable successes of yours,” observed the colonel, thawing.
dryly/ˈdɹaɪɫi/16× in the book
“It was a chronic condition with Ralph Paton,” he said dryly.
inquire/ˌɪnˈkwaɪɹ/16× in the book
I inquired sarcastically.
puzzle/ˈpəzəɫ/16× in the book
I had no time to puzzle the matter out further.
alibi/ˈæɫəˌbaɪ/15× in the book
He’d be busy with his duties immediately after dinner, and he’s got a pretty good alibi all through the evening.
thoughtfully/ˈθɔtfəɫi/15× in the book
“A very foolish young man, Captain Ralph Paton,” said Poirot thoughtfully.
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/15× in the book
he exclaimed.
curiously/ˈkjʊɹiəsɫi/14× in the book
He seemed curiously averse to begin.
handkerchief/ˈhæŋkɝtʃif/13× in the book
He took two cards from the card tray, wiped them with his silk handkerchief, then handed one to me and took the other himself.
scrap/ˈskɹæp/13× in the book
A scrap of stiff white cambric.
fancy/ˈfænsi/13× in the book
She asked me if I had any in my poison cupboard, and when I replied in the negative I fancy I fell in her estimation.
whilst/ˈwaɪɫst/12× in the book
I don’t think Caroline ever felt sorry for Mrs. Ferrars whilst she was alive.
billiard/ˈbɪɫjɝd/12× in the book
The ladies have gone to bed, and Major Blunt and Mr. Raymond are in the billiard room.”
stairs/ˈstɛɹz/12× in the book
It was a quarter past ten as we went up the stairs.
quill/ˈkwɪɫ/11× in the book
He made another dart and picked up a small quill—a goose quill by the look of it.
stepfather/ˈstɛpˌfɑðɝ/11× in the book
… and has brought him up accordingly, but he has been a wild lad and a continual source of worry and trouble to his stepfather.
lodge/ˈɫɑdʒ/11× in the book
The village church clock chimed nine o’clock as I passed through the lodge gates.
eyebrow/ˈaɪˌbɹaʊ/11× in the book
I raised my eyebrows.
drawer/ˈdɹɔɹ/11× in the book
A drawer of the bureau pushed in?
monsieur/məsˈjɝ/10× in the book
“I demand of you a thousand pardons, monsieur.
constable/ˈkɑnstəbəɫ/10× in the book
There was a confused murmur of voices in the hall, and then Parker appeared with our local inspector and a police constable.
fingerprint/ˈfɪŋɡɝˌpɹɪnt/10× in the book
Shall we oblige Inspector Davis with a set of our fingerprints also?”
peculiar/pəkˈjuɫjɝ/10× in the book
I fully believe that Roger intends to make settlements upon dear Flora, but, as you know, he is just a leetle peculiar about money.
tray/ˈtɹeɪ/10× in the book
For a minute or two he paced up and down the room, then, as Parker entered with the coffee tray, he sank into an arm-chair in front of the fire.
upstairs/əpˈstɛɹz/10× in the book
I ran upstairs, caught up my bag, and stuffed a few extra dressings into it.
spite/ˈspaɪt/10× in the book
I nodded mournfully, but in spite of myself I felt secretly entertained.
inquest/ˈɪnˌkwɛst/9× in the book
“Will there be an inquest?”
encouragingly9× in the book
I said encouragingly.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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