used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ruth stood galvanized for a second.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
Corliss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now she could not do so.
recognizable; marked
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
disclosedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskloʊzd/
made known (especially something secret or concealed)
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
an opposing military force
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading There was no other possible explanation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ruth stood galvanized for a second.
galvanizedverbUS /ˈɡælvənaɪzd/
past form of “galvanize” — to stimulate to action
From this reading Ruth stood galvanized for a second.
a person of German nationality
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
GermanynounUS /ˈdʒɜːrməni/
a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no other possible explanation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now she could not do so.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now she could not do so.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There was no other possible explanation.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading There was no other possible explanation.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
rightlyadverbUS /ˈraɪtli/
with honesty
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth stood galvanized for a second.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Ruth stood galvanized for a second.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now she could not do so.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Ruth stood galvanized for a second.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no other possible explanation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The man, beyond doubt, was a German agent; he had addressed her as a spy.
at the time that
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
wronglyadverbUS /ˈrɔːŋli/
without justice or fairness
From this reading When the woman at Mrs. Corliss’ had disclosed herself as an enemy, Ruth had balanced the harm the woman might do to America against the harm she, herself, might do Germany, and Ruth had decided, rightly or wrongly, to remain quiet.
