used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
(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 All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
apatheticallyadverb
in an apathetic manner
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
borrowverbUS /ˈbɑːroʊ/
get temporarily
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
divorceverbUS /dɪˈvɔːrs/
part; cease or break association with
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
divorcedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔːrst/
of someone whose marriage has been legally dissolved
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
humiliatingadjectiveUS /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪŋ/
causing awareness of your shortcomings
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
fasten with a lock
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
on the contrary
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
self-respectnounUS /ˌselfrɪˈspekt/
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
shrednounUS /ʃred/
a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
From this reading I can't remain here and keep any shred of self-respect.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
a special situation
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading All my life I've been taught to believe divorce a terrible thing--a crime, almost; now I think it is sometimes a crime _not_ to be divorced.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
Val
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And so,” Val finished, rather apathetically, pushing back the fallen lock of hair, “it has come to that.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It is humiliating to be compelled to borrow money--but I would much rather ask you than any of my own people.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading For months I have been coming slowly to a decision, so this is really not as sudden as it may seem to you.
