used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
anticipatedadjectiveUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
braceverbUS /breɪs/
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
chargedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrdʒd/
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
commissionnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
conspiratorsnounUS /kənˈspɪrətərz/
plural of “conspirator” — a member of a conspiracy
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
dustedverbUS /ˈdʌstɪd/
past form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
harshlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrʃli/
in a harsh or unkind manner
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
a room where books are kept
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
minutelyadverbUS /ˈmɪnətli/
in minute detail
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
parricidenoun
someone who kills his or her parent
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
pistolsnounUS /ˈpɪstəlz/
plural of “pistol” — a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/
spoil as if by poison
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
purchasedverbUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading He examined the desk, as if he expected to discover poison purchased for him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
ruffians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
only a very short time before
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
son'snounUS /sʌnz/
possessive form of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
express in speech
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
carry out
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
title-pages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He looked around the room as minutely as if he had anticipated conspirators and ruffians to start forth, at his son’s commission, and take his life.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
treatisenounUS /ˈtriːtəs/
a formal exposition
From this reading He dusted the books in the library, and glanced over many of the title-pages, as if he were certain to lay hold of a treatise on the duty and necessity of parricide.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He trembled as he took out a brace of pistols, and scarcely dared to ascertain whether they were charged or not.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would not allow the ladies to speak, but he harshly interrupted them.
