used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
in the past
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
aliensnounUS /ˈeɪliənz/
plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
in addition
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
Bezdek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
boycottsnounUS /ˈbɔɪkɑːts/
plural of “boycott” — a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
Cinema-makers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
contributingadjectiveUS /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ/
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
cyclenounUS /ˈsaɪkəl/
an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
CyrilnounUS /ˈsɪrəl/
Greek missionary; the invention of the Cyrillic alphabet is attributed to him (826-869)
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
Dorwin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
ExtraterrestrialadjectiveUS /ˌekstrətərˈestriəl/
originating or located or occurring outside Earth or its atmosphere
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
factornounUS /ˈfæktər/
anything that contributes causally to a result
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
HollywoodnounUS /ˈhɑːliwʊd/
the film industry of the United States
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
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 _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
minoritiesnounUS /maɪˈnɔːrətiz/
plural of “minority” — a group of people who differ racially or politically from a larger group of which it is a part
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
moviesnounUS /ˈmuːviz/
plural of “movie” — a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
nationalsnounUS /ˈnæʃənəlz/
plural of “national” — a person who owes allegiance to that nation
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
offendverbUS /əˈfend/
cause to feel resentment or indignation
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
portrayedadjectiveUS /pɔːrˈtreɪd/
represented graphically by sketch or design or lines
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
purveyornounUS /pərˈveɪər/
someone who supplies provisions (especially food)
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
express a supposition
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
today'snounUS /təˈdeɪz/
possessive form of “today” — the present time or age
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
touchinessnoun
feeling easily irritated
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
touchyadjectiveUS /ˈtʌtʃi/
quick to take offense
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
hard to endure
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
Twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading Cinema-makers are now trying to avoid further boycotts by using space aliens for villains.
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
villainsnounUS /ˈvɪlənz/
plural of “villain” — a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading _At least a contributing factor to the current cycle of science fiction movies being made in Hollywood is the touchiness of minorities having their nationals being portrayed as villains.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But suppose some of our Extraterrestrial neighbors are also a bit touchy?_ Pity the poor purveyor of mere entertainment in today's world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
a late time of life
From this reading Twenty-five years ago Cyril Bezdek and E. Carter Dorwin would have met in a private railway car belonging to one of them.
but in spite of that
From this reading He can't afford to offend a soul, yet must have a villain.
