used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
(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 I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
attributedverbUS /əˈtrɪbjətɪd/
past form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading But Bill Coombs was a very different proposition.
the two together, not just one
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Bill Coombs was a very different proposition.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
Coombs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Bill Coombs was a very different proposition.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But Bill Coombs was a very different proposition.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
made afraid
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
destroyed or killed
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
hard-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
hooting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
manifestlyadverbUS /ˈmænəfestli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
Pete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
propositionnounUS /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən/
(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
From this reading But Bill Coombs was a very different proposition.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
revealment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
Sallie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
a quantity of money
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
superstitionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
terrorsnounUS /ˈterərz/
plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading THE DEAD MAN This revealment of conditions left me thoroughly puzzled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
a source of difficulty
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
precisely as stated
From this reading But Bill Coombs was a very different proposition.
visionarynounUS /ˈvɪʒəneri/
a person given to fanciful speculations and enthusiasms with little regard for what is actually possible
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was not frightened at the situation, for I largely attributed the fear shown by both Pete and Sallie to negro superstition.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I could have dismissed their faith in a haunted house with a smile, and gone to sleep myself with an easy conscience, confident that a noisy wind, or a hooting owl, was the sum and substance of all the trouble.
but in spite of that
From this reading He was of the hard-headed kind, not to be easily alarmed by visionary terrors, and yet he was manifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
