adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
badadjectiveUS /bæd/
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/
without stop or interruption
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
crimenounUS /kraɪm/
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
criminalsnounUS /ˈkrɪmənəlz/
plural of “criminal” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/
recognizable; marked
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
folksnounUS /foʊks/
your parents
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
MacShaughnassy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
musinglyadverb
in a reflective manner
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/
easily agitated
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
OnceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
positivelyadverbUS /ˈpɑːzətɪvli/
extremely
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
possibilitynounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiː/
a future prospect or potential
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
reflectionnounUS /rɪˈflekʃən/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
reformnounUS /rəˈfɔːrm/
a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
remarkedverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkt/
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
sadadjectiveUS /sæd/
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
sinnounUS /sɪn/
estrangement from god
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
uninterestingadjectiveUS /əˈnɪntrəstɪŋ/
arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading One day we spoke of crime and criminals.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "It is a terribly sad reflection," remarked MacShaughnassy, musingly; "but what a desperately dull place this earth would be if it were not for our friends the bad people.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once do away with sin, and literature will become a thing of the past.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We had discussed the possibility of a novel without a villain, but had decided that it would be uninteresting.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Do you know," he continued, "when I hear of folks going about the world trying to reform everybody and make them good, I get positively nervous.
