used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
achievedverbUS /əˈtʃiːvd/
past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
how long something has existed
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
appearancesnounUS /əˈpɪrənsəz/
plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was now fully decided to be a burglar.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading He was now fully decided to be a burglar.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
championedverbUS /ˈtʃæmpiənd/
past form of “champion” — protect or fight for as a champion
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
ChicknounUS /tʃɪk/
young bird especially of domestic fowl
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading To be sure there were extenuating circumstances for Chick.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
recognizable; marked
From this reading He was now fully decided to be a burglar.
dedicatedadjectiveUS /ˈdedəkeɪtəd/
devoted to a cause or ideal or purpose
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
DetentionnounUS /dɪˈtenʃən/
a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
being one more than ten
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
extenuatingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstenjuːeɪtɪŋ/
partially excusing or justifying
From this reading To be sure there were extenuating circumstances for Chick.
Flathers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To be sure there were extenuating circumstances for Chick.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading He was now fully decided to be a burglar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
injusticenounUS /ˌɪnˈdʒʌstɪs/
an unjust act
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
JuvenileadjectiveUS /ˈdʒuːvənəl/
of or relating to or characteristic of or appropriate for children or young people
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was now fully decided to be a burglar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
oppressedadjectiveUS /əˈprest/
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
spoiledadjectiveUS /spɔɪld/
having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or oversolicitous attention
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading To be sure there were extenuating circumstances for Chick.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
in or at that place or location
From this reading To be sure there were extenuating circumstances for Chick.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Chick Flathers, at the advanced age of eleven, had been so impressed by the injustice of social conditions that he had dedicated himself to a life of crime.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He had already achieved two appearances in the Juvenile Court, and two days in the Detention Home.
unknowinglyadverbUS /ənˈnoʊɪŋli/
without knowledge or intention
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was now fully decided to be a burglar.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To be sure there were extenuating circumstances for Chick.
at the time that
From this reading When Miss Lady had championed the cause of the oppressed that afternoon, she had unknowingly spoiled a criminal in the making.
