used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In this case it is somewhat better, though I am not proud of it.
clothing in general
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
Devil'snounUS /ˈdevəlz/
possessive form of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
discussionnounUS /dɪˈskʌʃən/
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
one or the other of two
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
usually; as a rule
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
the act of departing
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
joined in matrimony
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
the force of workers available
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In this case it is somewhat better, though I am not proud of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading In this case it is somewhat better, though I am not proud of it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
snapverbUS /snæp/
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
a person, without saying who
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading In this case it is somewhat better, though I am not proud of it.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
express in words
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this case it is somewhat better, though I am not proud of it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading In this case it is somewhat better, though I am not proud of it.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ Somebody ought to know the truth about the Devil's Island affair and I am going to tell it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I said I thought it was a positive duty--it kept them up to the mark with their clothes and gave a sort of snap to things, without doing any harm.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It started with a discussion about married women having men friends.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading The truth is generally either better or worse than the stories that get about.
