used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was but one alternative--death--a particularly horrible one.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
additionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/
a component that is added to something to improve it
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
alternativeadjectiveUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/
serving or used in place of another
From this reading Sitsumi did not repeat the alternative.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
benefitedverbUS /ˈbenəfɪtɪd/
past form of “benefit” — derive a benefit from
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was but one alternative--death--a particularly horrible one.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading There was but one alternative--death--a particularly horrible one.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Sitsumi did not repeat the alternative.
Eyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
provoking horror
From this reading There was but one alternative--death--a particularly horrible one.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
JeteradjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːtər/
comparative of “jet” — of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
Kress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was but one alternative--death--a particularly horrible one.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading There was but one alternative--death--a particularly horrible one.
RememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading Remembering Kress, Jeter and Eyer did not need to ask him.
to say, state, or perform again
From this reading Sitsumi did not repeat the alternative.
scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
Sitsumi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitsumi did not repeat the alternative.
Sitsumi's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was but one alternative--death--a particularly horrible one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
ultimatumnounUS /ˌʌltəˈmeɪtəm/
a final peremptory demand
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _How It Came About_ "You will have twenty-four hours in which to decide whether to join us," was Sitsumi's ultimatum.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "We would not allow you five minutes were it not that our cause would be benefited by the addition of your scientific knowledge."
