used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
ALEXANDERnounUS /ˌæləɡˈzændər/
European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
(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 To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
ConstantinenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəntiːn/
Emperor of Rome who stopped the persecution of Christians and in 324 made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire; in 330 he moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople (280-337)
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
Constantine's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
contriveverbUS /kənˈtraɪv/
make or work out a plan for; devise
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
deservedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrvd/
properly deserved
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
Euphrosyne's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
accept an excuse for
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
set up or found
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
grievancenounUS /ˈɡriːvəns/
a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
lawfuladjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfəl/
conformable to or allowed by law
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
mattressnounUS /ˈmætrəs/
a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
by chance
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
an old word for “no”
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
offencenoun
the action of attacking an enemy
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
ONE-EYEDadjectiveUS /ˌwʌˈnaɪd/
having or showing only one eye
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading Her grievance against him was at least as great as Euphrosyne’s; her peril was far greater.
a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
PoetsnounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
have in common
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
hurting
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
a special situation
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
up to a particular time
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
venialadjective
warranting only temporal punishment
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
precisely as stated
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE POEM OF ONE-EYED ALEXANDER There is a matter on my conscience which I cannot excuse but may as well confess.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Poets have paid more attention to the first offence--maybe they know more about it--the law finds greater employment, on the whole, in respect to the second.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For me, I admit that it was not till I found myself stretched on a mattress in the kitchen, with the idea of getting a few hours’ sleep, that it struck me that Constantine’s wife deserved a share of my concern and care.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading To deceive a maiden is a very sore thing, so sore that it had made us all hot against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wife.
