used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
chasteningnoun
a rebuke for making a mistake
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
composingnounUS /kəmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
carefully weighed
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
JerrynounUS /ˈdʒeri/
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
JuniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
a unit of instruction
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
philosophynounUS /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/
The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
punishverbUS /ˈpʌnɪʃ/
impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
punishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌnɪʃt/
subjected to a penalty (as pain or shame or restraint or loss) for an offense or fault or in order to coerce some behavior (as a confession or obedience)
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
RosanounUS /ˈroʊzə/
large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
startsnounUS /stɑːrts/
plural of “start” — the beginning of anything
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
three-quartersnounUS /ˌθriːˈkwɔːrtərz/
three of four equal parts
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
Tony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
unconcernedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnkənˈsɜːrnd/
lacking in interest or care or feeling
From this reading Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
VillanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
at the time that
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior.
