used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
Bess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
exhale hard
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
divisible by two
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
innocentlyadverbUS /ˈɪnəsəntli/
in a not unlawful manner
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
limitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/
small in range or scope
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
plausibleadjectiveUS /ˈplɔːzəbəl/
apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
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 The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
swindlersnounUS /ˈswɪndlərz/
plural of “swindler” — a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
express in words
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
a shaky motion
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
a source of difficulty
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He told her that he believed his father was in London looking for him, and he did not care to run the risk of being discovered living under an assumed name.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the limited means at their command, George and Bess were not able to wander far away.
showing curiosity
From this reading The blow was so cruel it almost stunned him; but by the time Bess, wondering and trembling, came to him at the railway station, he had recovered himself sufficiently to invent a fairly plausible tale.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading He shrank from letting her knew the worst, that innocently even he had been mixed up with a gang of swindlers.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading George did not tell his young wife the nature of the trouble that had come upon him.
