used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
cellsnounUS /selz/
plural of “cell” — any small compartment
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
clothing in general
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
convertedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “convert” — change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
cureverbUS /kjʊr/
provide a cure for, make healthy again
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
wanted intensely
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading He was handcuffed in front, and still they were destroyed.
diversifiedadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrsəfaɪd/
having variety of character or form or components; or having increased variety
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
flogged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He was handcuffed in front, and still they were destroyed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
handcuffedverbUS /ˈhændkʌft/
past form of “handcuff” — confine or restrain with or as if with manacles or handcuffs
From this reading He was handcuffed in front, and still they were destroyed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
incrediblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
infallibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfæləbəl/
incapable of failure or error
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
justicesnounUS /ˈdʒʌstəsəz/
plural of “justice” — the quality of being just or fair
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
lunaticadjectiveUS /ˈluːnətɪk/
insane and believed to be affected by the phases of the moon
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
paddedadjectiveUS /ˈpædɪd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
sentencedverbUS /ˈsentənst/
past form of “sentence” — pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
shamming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
shrieksnounUS /ʃriːks/
plural of “shriek” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was handcuffed in front, and still they were destroyed.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was handcuffed in front, and still they were destroyed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
under normal conditions
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
visitingnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
yellsnounUS /jelz/
plural of “yell” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells.
