used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
afflictedadjectiveUS /əˈflɪktɪd/
grievously affected especially by disease
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
(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 Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
Americaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do not be troubled, Mam’zelle Americaine.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Do not be troubled, Mam’zelle Americaine.
for the reason that
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
the two together, not just one
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
censornounUS /ˈsensər/
someone who censures or condemns
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
Clair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do not be troubled, Mam’zelle Americaine.
EgyptiannounUS /ɪˈdʒɪpʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Egypt
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
many times at short intervals
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
friendlinessnounUS /ˈfrendlinɪs/
a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
a young female
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
infestsverbUS /ˌɪnˈfests/
third-person singular of “infest” — invade in great numbers
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
innocentsnounUS /ˈɪnəsənts/
plural of “innocent” — a person who lacks knowledge of evil
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
Jennie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
the literary culture
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
Mam'zelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do not be troubled, Mam’zelle Americaine.
matronnounUS /ˈmeɪtrən/
a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
MillverbUS /mɪl/
move about in a confused manner
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Do not be troubled, Mam’zelle Americaine.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
plagueverbUS /pleɪɡ/
cause to suffer a blight
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
cut with a saw
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
singledverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡəld/
past form of “single” — hit a single
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
spiesnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From both Helen and Jennie letters reached the girl of the Red Mill quite frequently.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Do not be troubled, Mam’zelle Americaine.
veritableadjectiveUS /ˈverɪtəbəl/
often used as intensifiers
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ruth saw that always her correspondence was opened and read by the censor; but that was the fate of all letters that came to Clair.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We innocents,” said the matron of the hospital, “are thus afflicted because of the plague of spies—a veritable Egyptian plague!—that infests this part of my country.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You are not singled out as though your friendliness to France was questioned.
