used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
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_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
at any time
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
exchangesnounUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “exchange” — chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
hankeringnounUS /ˈhæŋkərɪŋ/
a yearning for something or to do something
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
luridlyadverb
in a lurid manner
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
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 We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
nurturedverbUS /ˈnɜːrtʃərd/
past form of “nurture” — help develop, help grow
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
go across or through
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
passableadjectiveUS /ˈpæsəbəl/
able to be passed or traversed or crossed
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
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_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
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 _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
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 And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
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_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
timidlyadverbUS /ˈtɪmədli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading We have opened many a volume that promised luridly--and failed to keep its promise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading _Printed in the United States of America_ A weakness we have long shared, and nurtured together: our hankering after good mystery stories.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading And whenever we did find a passable tale, our best pleasure in it was to pass it on to the other.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading If it please you, I shall not need to worry about its other readers.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading In these exchanges, I have learned that you are more critical than I: so that as ever, in bringing you this book, I do so timidly.
