used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a flash he realized his peril.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading It was true--the box was gone!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
compromisingadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪŋ/
making or willing to make concessions
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading In a flash he realized his peril.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
destroyed or killed
From this reading It was true--the box was gone!
half-fainting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
hangedverbUS /hæŋd/
past form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a flash he realized his peril.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a flash he realized his peril.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was true--the box was gone!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
on one occasion
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
by chance
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading In a flash he realized his peril.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading In a flash he realized his peril.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For that box held little that was not of a highly compromising nature.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was true--the box was gone!
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Once its contents were seen by the authorities--as it would seem they must be--he would be arrested as a spy, imprisoned, perhaps hanged.
Zwieten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strong man as he was, Van Zwieten reeled half-fainting against the wall.
