used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
(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 Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
from appearances alone
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/
plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading There were many flaws to his claim.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
compelverbUS /kəmˈpel/
force somebody to do something
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
deedsnounUS /diːdz/
performance of moral or religious acts
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
divulgeverbUS /dɪˈvʌldʒ/
make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He had reason to do so.
at any time
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
flawsnounUS /flɔːz/
plural of “flaw” — an imperfection in an object or machine
From this reading There were many flaws to his claim.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
Frank'snounUS /fræŋks/
possessive form of “frank” — a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
the act of giving
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had reason to do so.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had reason to do so.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
Ismond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were many flaws to his claim.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
a form of address for a man
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
information about recent and important events
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
ownershipnounUS /ˈoʊnərʃɪp/
the relation of an owner to the thing possessed; possession with the right to transfer possession to others
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
a human being
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
persuasionnounUS /pərˈsweɪʒən/
the act of persuading (or attempting to persuade); communication intended to induce belief or action
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
Purnell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading He had reason to do so.
recoveringadjectiveUS /rəˈkʌvərɪŋ/
returning to health after illness or debility
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had reason to do so.
step-father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were many flaws to his claim.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
threatsnounUS /θrets/
plural of “threat” — something that is a source of danger
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had reason to do so.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
look attentively
From this reading GOOD NEWS Frank kept a close watch on Purnell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were many flaws to his claim.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Upon what he might by threats or persuasion compel this man to divulge, hung all the future prospects of his mother ever recovering her stolen fortune.
at the time that
From this reading When Frank’s step-father died, this person, one of his former associates, had produced notes and deeds apparently giving him the ownership to everything that Mr. Ismond owned.
