used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
(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 With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
arm'snounUS /ɑːrmz/
possessive form of “arm” — a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Sheila Macklin's very dignity held Ida May Bostwick at arm's length.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sheila Macklin's very dignity held Ida May Bostwick at arm's length.
awedadjectiveUS /ɔːd/
inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
blastverbUS /blæst/
make a strident sound
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
Bostwick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
brawlnounUS /brɔːl/
an uproarious party
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
breedverbUS /briːd/
call forth
From this reading She was of that breed and up-bringing.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading Sheila Macklin's very dignity held Ida May Bostwick at arm's length.
enshroudedverbUS /ɪnˈʃraʊdəd/
past form of “enshroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
face-scratching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
filthyadjectiveUS /ˈfɪlθi/
disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
a young female
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
hair-pulling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Sheila Macklin's very dignity held Ida May Bostwick at arm's length.
intense and profound fear
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
IdanounUS /ˈaɪdə/
an agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
impostor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Sheila Macklin's very dignity held Ida May Bostwick at arm's length.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
Macklin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
Macklin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheila Macklin's very dignity held Ida May Bostwick at arm's length.
mantlenounUS /ˈmæntəl/
the cloak as a symbol of authority
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
precisely, exactly
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
except for; apart from
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was of that breed and up-bringing.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
torrentnounUS /ˈtɔːrənt/
a heavy rain
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
unstableadjectiveUS /ənˈsteɪbəl/
lacking stability or fixity or firmness
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
up-bringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was of that breed and up-bringing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
usurpedverbUS /ˌjuːˈsɜːrpt/
past form of “usurp” — seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
venomousadjectiveUS /ˈvenəməs/
extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
precisely as stated
From this reading Sheila Macklin's very dignity held Ida May Bostwick at arm's length.
vituperationnoun
abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was of that breed and up-bringing.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading The real Ida May--weak, save in venomous hate, unstable as water, as shallow as a pool of glass--could have joined issue in a hair-pulling, face-scratching brawl.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
which person or people
From this reading THE LIE The girl who had seized upon the chance of becoming Ida May Bostwick, and so escaping the horror and despair that enshrouded Sheila Macklin like a filthy mantle, stood after the first blast as firm as a rock under the torrent of vituperation and rage which poured from the other girl's lips.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With all right and title to the name and place Sheila had usurped, the new arrival was awed by the impostor's look.
