used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
anew
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
react verbally
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
blastedadjectiveUS /ˈblæstəd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
bredverbUS /bred/
inflected form of “breed” — call forth
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
coversnounUS /ˈkʌvərz/
plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
defyverbUS /dɪˈfaɪ/
resist or confront with resistance
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
disputeverbUS /dɪsˈpjuːt/
take exception to
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
disputedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈpjuːtəd/
subject to disagreement and debate
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
a social unit living together
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
freezingnounUS /ˈfriːzɪŋ/
the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
gainernounUS /ˈɡeɪnər/
a person who gains weight
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
JoshverbUS /dʒɑːʃ/
be silly or tease one another
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
lightning-stroke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
losernounUS /ˈluːzər/
a contestant who loses the contest
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
mandatesnounUS /ˈmændeɪts/
plural of “mandate” — a document giving an official instruction or command
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
and nothing more
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
overaweverb
subdue, restrain, or overcome by affecting with a feeling of awe; frighten (as with threats)
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
paralyzeverbUS /ˈperəlaɪz/
make powerless and unable to function
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
presumeverbUS /prɪˈzuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
quellingnounUS /ˈkwelɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
revelationnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
side-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
sovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
stamped-leather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
thenceforthadverbUS /ˌðenˈsfɔːrθ/
from that time on
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was the gainer, she the loser, by that breach of theirs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He would always have an answer for her thenceforth; her quelling days were over....
which person or people
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading She had always promised him that he would be blasted by a lightning-stroke from Heaven did he presume to defy her awful mandates and dispute her sovereign will.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading For to Josh, who had been bred in the belief that the word of Sarah was as little to be disputed as the Word between the black stamped-leather covers of the great Family Bible on the best parlor side-table, had come the revelation that his mother was merely a woman after all.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Her terrible voice, her freezing glare would never overawe his soul and paralyze his tongue again.
