used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
consider or hold as true
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
any person at all
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the last moment Mrs. Carmac intervened.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
blackmailernoun
a criminal who extorts money from someone by threatening to expose embarrassing information about them
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
BRETONnounUS /ˈbretən/
a native or inhabitant of Brittany (especially one who speaks the Breton language)
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
Carmac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the last moment Mrs. Carmac intervened.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
checkeredadjectiveUS /ˈtʃekərd/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
concoctverbUS /kənˈkɑːkt/
make a concoction (of) by mixing
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
one or the other of two
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
not accessible to view
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
intervenedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈviːnd/
past form of “intervene” — get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
From this reading At the last moment Mrs. Carmac intervened.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
immediately past
From this reading At the last moment Mrs. Carmac intervened.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
a particular point in time
From this reading At the last moment Mrs. Carmac intervened.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading At the last moment Mrs. Carmac intervened.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
profferedverbUS /ˈprɑːfərd/
past form of “proffer” — present for acceptance or rejection
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
Raymond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
realizingverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “realize” — be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
RECKONINGnounUS /ˈrekənɪŋ/
problem solving that involves numbers or quantities
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
reprisalnounUS /riˈpraɪzəl/
a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
in an unfortunate way
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
schemesnounUS /skiːmz/
plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
signedadjectiveUS /saɪnd/
having a handwritten signature
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
squirmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BRETON RECKONING Raymond squirmed, but signed the confession.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The blackmailer had either to accept the proffered terms or concoct schemes of reprisal in a cell.
Tollemache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tollemache forced the belief that he was in deadly earnest.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
yieldverbUS /jiːld/
be the cause or source of
From this reading "I know what it means to be tempted, and to yield," she said sadly, realizing now that her own somewhat checkered record was not hidden from anyone in that room.
