used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HELPLESS AND HOPELESS.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
claimedverbUS /kleɪmd/
past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
convictnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkt/
a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
crushesnounUS /ˈkrʌʃɪz/
plural of “crush” — leather that has had its grain pattern accentuated
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
dealsnounUS /diːlz/
plural of “deal” — a particular instance of buying or selling
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
DeannounUS /diːn/
an administrator in charge of a division of a university or college
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
divisible by two
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
set up or found
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading HELPLESS AND HOPELESS.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
HOPELESSadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading HELPLESS AND HOPELESS.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
institutionnounUS /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃən/
an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
legalizedverbUS /ˈliːɡəlaɪzd/
past form of “legalize” — make legal
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
maturedadjectiveUS /məˈtjʊrd/
fully ripe; at the height of bloom
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
MercernounUS /ˈmɜːrsər/
a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
on one occasion
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
penitentiaryadjectiveUS /ˌpenɪˈtentʃəri/
used for punishment or reform of criminals or wrongdoers
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
plottingverbUS /ˈplɑːtɪŋ/
inflected form of “plot” — plan secretly, usually something illegal
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
prisonsnounUS /ˈprɪzənz/
plural of “prison” — a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
reformnounUS /rəˈfɔːrm/
a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
regimenounUS /rəˈʒiːm/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
an educational institution
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
shrewdnessnounUS /ˈʃruːdnəs/
intelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings)
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In a reform school it deals even more strictly than in a penitentiary, for here boyish shrewdness is feared fully as much as more matured plotting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
wardennounUS /ˈwɔːr.dən/
The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The institution in which Dean Mercer found himself to be a prisoner was noted for its severe regime.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Once its doors closed on a convict the warden claimed that by the legalized act he became dead to the outside world.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading The arm of the law is strong--it crushes hope out of a man’s life sometimes, in the worst class of prisons.
