used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
adulterynounUS /əˈdʌltəri/
extramarital sex that willfully and maliciously interferes with marriage relations
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
advantagesnounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒɪz/
plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
(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 For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
attributingverbUS /əˈtrɪbjətɪŋ/
-ing form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Not infrequently it is a human being.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
cashnounUS /kæʃ/
money in the form of bills or coins
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
chipnounUS /tʃɪp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
crimesnounUS /kraɪmz/
plural of “crime” — (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
DISSOLVINGnounUS /dɪˈzɔːlvɪŋ/
the process of going into solution
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
ETHICSnounUS /ˈeθɪks/
motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
expiating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
expiationnoun
compensation for a wrong
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
a young female
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
goatnounUS /ɡoʊt/
any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
incendiarismnoun
malicious burning to destroy property
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
infrequentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈfriːkwəntli/
not many times
From this reading Not infrequently it is a human being.
institutionsnounUS /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃənz/
plural of “institution” — an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
IsraelnounUS /ˈɪzriəl/
Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Not infrequently it is a human being.
literallyadverbUS /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
monkeynounUS /ˈmʌŋki/
any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
used to form the superlative
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not infrequently it is a human being.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
requiresverbUS /riˈkwaɪərz/
third-person singular of “require” — require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
scapegoatnounUS /ˈskeɪpɡoʊt/
someone who is punished for the errors of others
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
sinsnounUS /sɪnz/
plural of “sin” — estrangement from god
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
a person, without saying who
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
theftnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The sense of guilt requires some sort of expiation, and this “cash and carry” system of expiating the sins of an entire community by attributing them to someone else has obvious advantages.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
tribesnounUS /traɪbz/
plural of “tribe” — a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/
impressive by reason of age
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading The victim may be literally a goat, as among the Children of Israel, or a rat or a monkey or other animal.
which person or people
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
widespreadadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdˈspred/
widely circulated or diffused
From this reading OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS OUR DISSOLVING ETHICS I The scapegoat is one of the most venerable and widespread of human institutions.
witchcraftnounUS /ˈwɪtʃkræft/
the art of sorcery
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading For example, among some tribes in Africa all persons who during the year have committed incendiarism, witchcraft, theft, adultery, or other crimes, chip in about ten dollars each and buy a young girl, who is then dragged to the river and drowned for the sins of the town.
